AGRANULOCYTOSIS IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

ACUTE agranulocytosis of the type described by Werner Schultz in 1922 is characteristically a disease of middle-aged women. Definite cases in childhood are rare, although other leukopenic and granulocytopenic conditions, without the clinical signs characteristic of the disease, are not uncommon. The fundamental lesion is a depression of the bone marrow which results in arrest of maturation or complete destruction of the granulated series of white blood cells. By definition, there is no disturbance of the red cells or platelets in cases of pure agranulocytosis. Three groups of granulocytopenic conditions have been differentiated according to etiology 1 : 1. The acute or the peracute form or the Schultz type, which is considered to be a shocklike allergic reaction of the bone marrow to a noxious agent. In many cases this agent has been recognized to be some drug containing the benzene ring, especially aminopyrine, but frequently it is unknown. 2. More