A Case of Acute Typhlitis Complicating Drug-induced Agranulocytosis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Increasingly aggressive chemotherapy regimens, advances in transplantation technology, and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have resulted in a growing number of immunocompromised patients. Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. One of the most ominous complications is the development of typhlitis in this immunocompromised patients. Treatment of this process is controversial, and no consensus has emerged. We report a case of typhlitis who complicated agranulocytosis after exposure to drugs to treat "flu" like illness and recovered completely after two operations of appendectomy and ileocolectomy. Reviewing articles and this case, the favorable outcome seemed to be related to following three factors recognition of the acute surgical abdomen by abdominal CT scan, a prompt return of normal circulating white cells by the use of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor and discontinuation of causative drugs, and an appropriately timed surgical intervention.