Dipirona: ¿Beneficios subestimados o riesgos sobredimensionados? Revisión de la literatura

Dipyrone: Benets underestimated or oversized risks? Review of the literature Dipyrone is an analgesic, antipyretic, antispasmodic and anti-inammatory widely used in Colombia and Latin America, outlawed by reference regulatory agencies due to the risk of agranulocytosis and other blood dyscrasias. These facts have generated controversy and even apprehension within prescribers, which justies this review. Aer reviewing the literature is that dipyrone is effective as antipyretic and management of acute pain, chronic, postoperative, renal colic and migraine. The prevalence of agranulocytosis is 0.03 to 0.5% in European patients and the incidence in Hispanic patients is about 0.38 cases per million inhabitants/year and even lower for aplastic anemia. Gastric injury risk is lower than that of other commonly used nsaids and is a relatively safe drug during pregnancy. Other adverse eects include hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis, pemphigus and hypotension related to rapid intravenous administration of the drug. Conclusions: Dipyrone carries a very low risk of blood dyscrasias in Latin American population, possibly due to pharmacogenetic factors not yet identied. The main risk factors include duration of treatment, the dose used and the concomitant use of other drugs that produce myelotoxicity.