Procainamide thrombocytopenia with

Biood dyscrasias Agranulocytosis, bone marrow depression, neutropenia, hypoplastic anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients receiving procainamide have been reported at a rate of approximately 0.5%. Fatalities have occurred (with approximately 20% to 25% mortality in reported cases of agranulocytosis). Perform complete blood counts including white cell, differential, and platelet counts at weekly intervals for the first 3 months of therapy, and periodically thereafter. Perform complete blood counts promptly if the patient develops any signs of infection (eg. 

Procainamide and quinidine cdrnmonly cauie Gl upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and hj otension. Less commonly, procainamide is associated with agranulocytosis end iupus-Uke syndrome Additional side effects of quinidine include thrombocytopenia and cinchonism. ... 

Procainamide may induce a syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. This syndrome consists of arthralgias, myalgias, pleurisy, rash, fever, and elevated nuclear antibodies. Patients who are slow acetylators are at increased risk for developing this syndrome. While some studies have reported that less than one in 500 on chronic procainamide therapy developed this syndrome, others have reported this syndrome in up to 30% of patients on long-term therapy. Other side effects with chronic use include development of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, agranulocytosis, liver failure, a myasthenia-like syndrome, and psychosis with hallucinations. 

Some drugs such as hydralazine or procainamide may induce lupus like diseases with antinuclear antibodies and proteinuria. D-penicillamine not only causes glomerulopathies, but also myasthenia, polymyositis or lupus, suggesting that this compound provokes immune disregulation. Gold salts also are capable of inducing various immunopathological disorders such as pneumonitis, anemia, thrombocytopenia and hepatitis. 

Garratty G, Amdt P, Prince HE, Shulman lA (1993) The effect of methyldopa and procainamide on suppressor cell activity in relation to red cell autoantibody production. Br J Haematol 84 310-315 Gottschall JL, Elliot W, Lianos E, McFarland JG, Wolfmeyer K, Aster RH (1991) Quinine-induced immune thrombocytopenia associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome a new clinical entity. Blood 77 306-310... 

---