Introduction to Blood Cell Disorders

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Departments of Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

Many drugs besides psychotropic medications are associated with hematologic abnormalities. One or more cell lines may be affected depending on the drug and its mechanism of action. Drug-induced blood dyscrasias occur infrequently other than when associated with chemotherapy. The exact incidence varies with each medication.

Pathology

The two basic mechanisms are suppression of hematopoiesis by direct toxicity to the bone marrow and formation of antibodies against blood cells.

Drug Etiologies

Major nonpsychotropic medications associated with blood dyscrasias are listed in the following table. Patients on psychotropic treatment are also likely to be on many of these other agents and it is important to evaluate for synergistic effects from different medications.

Nonpsychotropic medications associated with blood dyscrasias