Hematologic reactions to carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

The National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects has received 79 case reports of suspected hematopoietic toxicity caused by carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Twenty-six of these suspected cases (32%) resulted in death secondary to aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or agranulocytosis. In 54 of these 79, adverse reactions (68%) occurred during the first six months of therapy.