How does Tylenol cause neutropenia?

Question

What is the physiological process that makes Tylenol cause neutropenia?

Answer 1

Take a look at this:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...

also, "Neutropenia" is a condition of an abnormally low number of a type of a particular type of white blood cell called a neutrophil. White blood cells (leukocytes) are the cells in the blood that play important roles in the body's immune by fighting off infection. Because white blood cells can be affected by many diseases, doctors will often check the "white blood cell count" in evaluating health conditions.

The normal white blood cells are of different types and include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. The average blood concentration (cells per cubic mm) for each type are: neutrophils (3650); lymphocytes (2500); monocytes (430); eosinophils (150); basophils (30). Neutrophils function by actually killing and eating up microorganisms that invade our bodies. "Neutropenia" is present when the neutophil count is less than 2000.

Neutropenia can be present (though it is relatively uncommon) in normal healthy individuals, notably in blacks and Yemenite Jews. Causes of neutropenia from disease can be categorized as resulting from decreased production of white blood cells, destruction of white blood cells after they are produced, or pooling of white blood cells (accumulation of the white blood cells out of the circulation).

Diseases causing decreased production of white blood cells include drug toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, and medical diseases such as blood diseases, infections (virus diseases, tuberculosis, typhoid), abnormalities of the bone marrow disorders, or be cyclic (varying in severity week to week, month to month, perhaps related to biorhythms). Destruction of white blood cells can occur as a result of antibodies attacking the cells (such as in Felty's syndrome) or from drugs stimulating the immune system to attack the cells. Pooling of white blood cells occurs with some overwhelming infections, heart-lung bypass during heart surgery, and hemodialysis.

There is also an example of a nurse who had a neutropenic patient. Her Nurses Aide did the vitals, and revealed the temp was 101.1 so the aide relayed that info to the nurse. The nurse gave the patient Tylenol for the fever. The fever came down. But the nurse got a call from her manager stating the doctor had a fit because he wasn't called and that the patient could have gone septic and died.

Hope these examples help in your studies.