Extensive clinical trial has shown that phenylbutazone (Butazolidin) is effective in relieving pain and stiffness in such musculoskeletal disorders as gouty arthritis, spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibrositis, muscular rheumatism, myositis, bursitis, sciatica, and periarthritis. Chemically, the drug is 3,5-dioxo-1,2-diphenyl-4n-butyl pyrazolidin sodium. Hence, it is related to aminopyrine (Pyramidon), which chemically is 4-dimethylamino-1-2,3-dimethylpyrazolon. It is significant that no case of fatal agranulocytosis has been reported to date by either American or European investigators in spite of the close relationship between phenylbutazone and aminopyrine. Wilhelmi,1Belart,2Loewenhardt,3Fahndrich,4and Fischer5reported that the drug did not influence the blood picture to any appreciable extent. Gsell and Muller6reported transient granulocytopenia that did not require discontinuance of the drug. The first American report was by Kuzell, Schaffarzick, Brown and Mankle7and concerned the treatment of 140 patients with gout and a variety of rheumatic
[1]
A. S. Jacobson,et al.
Fatality due to agranulocytosis following use of phenylbutazone (butazolidin).
,
1953,
Journal of the American Medical Association.
[2]
O. Steinbrocker,et al.
Phenylbutazone therapy of arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal disorders.
,
1952,
Journal of the American Medical Association.
[3]
R. Schaffarzick,et al.
Phenylbutazone (butazolidin) in rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
,
1952,
Journal of the American Medical Association.
[4]
H. Fischer.
[On irgapyrine, a new drug in parenteral pyrazol therapy of rheumatic polyarthritis].
,
1951,
Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift.
[5]
Fahndrich Wh,et al.
Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur parenteralen Pyramidontherapie, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des chronischen Gelenkrheumatismus
,
1950
.
[6]
F. Loewenhardt.
[Irgapyrin (Geigy), a new pyrazolic antirheumatic and analgesic].
,
1950,
Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift.