Mesantoin in the Treatment of Epilepsy

Abstract

IN 1950 we reviewed the literature on the serious side effects of anticonvulsants¹ and described 11 cases of cytopenia attributed to Mesantoin. Six of the patients treated had died. Since our review, 2 accounts^{2 , 3} of similar cases, as well as other relevant articles,^{4 5 6 7} have appeared.The article¹ referred to described general safeguards and advocated a routine supervision of blood counts that, it was hoped, would largely prevent such catastrophes. This routine, as we have followed it since then, entails a white-cell count and a differential count with a calculation of the number of neutrophils to be done at the following . . .