Agranulocytosis from antiarrhythmic agents. What to watch for when a medication is first prescribed.

Anyone who prescribes antiarrhythmic medications should strongly consider monitoring patients for the first 3 months of its use. If agranulocytosis is going to develop, it almost always does so in that period. A complete blood cell count every 1 to 2 weeks can detect neutropenia before symptoms and infectious complications appear.

Psychogenic amnesia.

Psychogenic amnesia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by sudden loss of memory in the absence of organic lesion or disease. The disorder most frequently occurs in association with a severe stressor, such as a natural disaster or military conflict. To facilitate effective treatment and an accurate prognosis, psychogenic amnesia must be differentiated from amnesia of structural or pharmacologic origin.