[PDF][PDF] Effect of phenylhydrazine derivatives in the treatment of polycythemia
PH Long - The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1926 - Am Soc Clin Investig
PH Long
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1926•Am Soc Clin InvestigThe use of phenylhydrazine derivatives as therapeutic agents was introduced soon after the
discovery of acetyl phenylhydrazine (pyro-din) by Liebreich. It was employed as an
antipyretic. Renvers (1), in discussing this drug, pointed out that while its action as an
antipyretic was fairly efficient, its toxic action upon the red blood cells made its use
dangerous. He describes a case of rheumatic fever in which pyrodin grams 0.5 was given for
three days, following which the red blood cell count dropped to two million eight hundred …
discovery of acetyl phenylhydrazine (pyro-din) by Liebreich. It was employed as an
antipyretic. Renvers (1), in discussing this drug, pointed out that while its action as an
antipyretic was fairly efficient, its toxic action upon the red blood cells made its use
dangerous. He describes a case of rheumatic fever in which pyrodin grams 0.5 was given for
three days, following which the red blood cell count dropped to two million eight hundred …
The use of phenylhydrazine derivatives as therapeutic agents was introduced soon after the discovery of acetyl phenylhydrazine (pyro-din) by Liebreich. It was employed as an antipyretic. Renvers (1), in discussing this drug, pointed out that while its action as an antipyretic was fairly efficient, its toxic action upon the red blood cells made its use dangerous. He describes a case of rheumatic fever in which pyrodin grams 0.5 was given for three days, following which the red blood cell count dropped to two million eight hundred thousand cells. A distinct icterus developed and at the same time the urine became burgundy colored and contained much urobilin. A series of similar ill effects was noted by other observers who used the phenylhydrazine derivatives as antipyretics. For many years these drugs were employed only in the production of experimental anemias in animals and it was not until 1908 that Morawitz and Pratt (2) suggested that phenylhydrazine hydrochloride should be given a trial in polycythemia.
Sometime later Eppinger and Kloss (3) reported that they had obtained satisfactory results with this drug, using at first 10 cc. of a 5 per cent solution injected subcutaneously in a case of polycythemia. Further observation convinced them that oral administration was as effective as subcutaneous injection. A reduction of the red blood cells and hemoglobin with an occasional leukocytosis was noted. Taschenberg (4) also used the drug in polycythemia with a satis-factory decrease of the red blood cells and a fall in the percent of hemoglobin to normal limits. His observations led him to believe that a specific resistance to phenylhydrazine was developed by the red cells which necessitated the administration of increasingly large doses to bring about the desired results. 315
The Journal of Clinical Investigation