Neutropenia is defined as an abnormally low neutrophil count, below 1.5G/L.
- Divided into mild (1.0-1.5G/L), moderate (0.5-1.0G/L) and severe (<0.5G/L).
- More common in females.
- Although they are used interchangeably, agranulocytosis refers to a more severe condition in which all granulocytes (including eosinophils and basophils) are severely reduced.
- Leukopenia refers to a decrease in all white blood cell counts.
- The lower the value, the higher the chances are that the patient will develop recurrent infections.
- It can come by itself or as a part of pancytopenia (where all blood cell counts are decreased) in cases such as HIV.
Risk factors
- Older age
- HLA-B38 and DR4
- EBV
- Drug usage
- Probenecid together with captopril
- ACEi together with interferons
- Levamisole
Etiology
Neutropenia can be primary (idiopathic or congenital) or acquired (drug-induced, immune, tumor-induced, infectious).