Neutropenia autoinmune infantil

Abstract

Results of a prospective follow up of 15 children with chronic neutropenia (less than 1 000 neutrophils/ul ofperipheral b!ood, thai lasted more than 15 days) are described. At diagnosis all patients had absolute bloodneutrophil counts less 'han 1 000/uJ. The following test were performed to all of them: repeated blood leukocyte anddifferencial counts during the period of neutropenia, bone marrow aspirate examination and serum anti-neutrophilantibodies by indirect irnrnunoHuorescent test. Mean age at diagnosis was 8 month, range 5 to 1 8 months. Allpatients had positive serum antineutrophil anybodies, at titles that ranged from 1/20 to 1/80, mean 1/55. Absoluteneutrophil blood cell counts recovered spontaneously in ail patients 4 to 63 months, median 15 months, after detectionof neulropenia. Several bacterial infectious episodes of different frequency, ethiology and severity were recorded innine patients, but all resolved favourably with antioiotic treatment. Six patients had no infections at all along the wholeneutropenic period. Autoimmune neutropenia is probably the most frequent cause of infant's chronic neutropenia. Itusually recovers spontaneously in variable lengths of time, and requires conservative management.[Koy words: neutropenia, autoimmuniry, autoantibodies, autoimmune diseases.)