LEUKOPENIA FOLLOWING FUMAGILLIN TREATMENT FOR AMEBIASIS

Abstract

Fumagillin, a new amebacide that is produced from a strain of Aspergillus fumigatus, has been claimed not to produce toxic effects on parenchymatous organs including the blood and blood-forming tissues. The occurrence of moderate leukopenia following use of this drug is therefore reported. REPORT OF CASE The patient was a 40-year-old white engineer who had lived in various parts of South America for about 15 years. He contracted amebiasis in Venezuela in 1940 and received intermittent treatment thereafter. A random stool examination on Sept. 17, 1952, did not reveal cysts. On Aug. 3, 1953, a specimen obtained via a sigmoidoscope was examined because of mild diarrhea and tenesmus that had started several days earlier. The presence of cysts of Escherichia histolytica was confirmed by iron-hematoxylin stain. He was given 40 mg. of fumagillin daily for 14 days. On the last day of treatment he noted headache and recurrence of mild