Chronic neutropenia during childhood. A 13-year experience in a single institution
O. G. Jonsson and G. R. Buchanan
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
To evaluate the clinical course and characteristics of children with
chronic neutropenia, we reviewed the charts of all such patients seen at
our center during a 13-year period. A total of 50 patients with chronic
neutropenia were identified. Three patients had documented congenital
neutropenia, and two siblings had cyclic neutropenia. The remaining 45
children had chronic neutropenia of unknown origin. All children except two
had a remarkably benign course despite markedly reduced granulocyte counts.
Of six girls in this group who had abscess or cellulitis of the labia
majora, it was a presenting manifestation in three. Resolution of
neutropenia was documented in 23 (62%) of 37 patients for whom follow-up
information was available, with a median duration of neutropenia of 19
months. No differences were evident between patients with positive
antineutrophil antibody test results and those in whom the test yielded
negative results or was not performed. Chronic neutropenia in childhood is
a relatively uncommon entity, characterized by a benign course and eventual
resolution in the majority of patients.
