HC Deb 14 April 1953 vol 514 cc1-2W
Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health if he will list the drugs that are known to cause malignant neutropenia, agranulocytosis and acute leukaemia; what statistics he has showing the incidence of these conditions during the past two years, as compared with the year 1930; and whether he will withdraw from the official Pharmacopoeia any of these drugs known to carry this danger.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

Any list would be misleading. Many valuable drugs have on occasion been suspected of being the toxic factor in these diseases, but any particular drug has relatively seldom been incriminated; moreover, many patients have taken such drugs without any disorder of the blood resulting.

The figures asked for in the second part of the Question are not available. The contents of the British Pharmacopoeia are a matter for the Pharmacopoeia Commission.