Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Neutropenia Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Neutropenia from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Chest X Ray

CT

MRI

Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

on Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics in the news

Blogs on Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

Directions to Hospitals Treating Neutropenia

Risk calculators and risk factors for Neutropenia epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Daniel A. Gerber, M.D. [2]

Overview

Neutropenia is most commmon in at-risk patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy or on other myelosuppressive medications, however a benign form of mild neutropenia is commonly identified in certain ethnicities (blacks, Yemenites, West Indians, Arab Jordanians) that does not impair the immune system.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Neutropenia is typically identified in at-risk patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy or on other myelosuppressive medications. As noted above, some ethnicities have an unusually high prevalence of incidentally identified mild neutropenia, also termed constitutional or benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN). This is most common in blacks, Yemenites, West Indians, and Arab Jordanians and is suggested to be caused by a mutation in the Duffy antigen on red blood cells that helps to confer resistance to malaria. As the name suggests, these cases are typically mild and do not result in immunosuppression.

BEN is more often seen in blacks, Yemenites, West Indians, and Arab Jordanians with up to 4.5% prevalence in these populations. [1] In these individuals, a mutation in the Duffy antigen gene - a gene which encodes a red blood cell receptor used by malaria to enter these cells - both confers a protective effect against this parasite and, for unclear reasons, lowers the circulating neutrophil count. While quite common, the neutropenia is typically mild (ANC 1,000-1500 cells/microliter) and does not predispose to increased risk of infection or increased risk of febrile neutropenia in the setting of chemotherapy as these individuals have normal bone marrow neutrophil reserves.[2] [3] [4].

Immunodeficiencies are frequently associated with neutropenia (38% in Hyper IgM syndrome, 12% in CVID, and 7% in X-linked agammaglobulinemia) as are autoimmune disorders including up to 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, yet with lower overall prevalence. While rheumatoid arthritis infrequently presents with neutropenia, severe neutropenia can develop in the setting of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia or Felty's syndrome. [5]

References

  1. Hsieh MM, Everhart JE, Byrd-Holt DD, Tisdale JF, Rodgers GP (2007). "Prevalence of neutropenia in the U.S. population: age, sex, smoking status, and ethnic differences". Ann. Intern. Med. 146 (7): 486–92. PMID 17404350.
  2. Shoenfeld Y, Alkan ML, Asaly A, Carmeli Y, Katz M (1988). "Benign familial leukopenia and neutropenia in different ethnic groups". Eur J Haematol. 41 (3): 273–7. PMID 3181399.
  3. Shoenfeld Y, Ben-Tal O, Berliner S, Pinkhas J (1985). "The outcome of bacterial infection in subjects with benign familial leukopenia (BFL)". Biomed Pharmacother. 39 (1): 23–6. PMID 4027348.
  4. Hsieh MM, Tisdale JF, Rodgers GP, Young NS, Trimble EL, Little RF (2009). "Neutrophil count in African Americans: lowering the target cutoff to initiate or resume chemotherapy?". J Clin Oncol. 28 (10): 1633–7. PMID 20194862.
  5. Bucknall RC, Davis P, Bacon PA, Jones JV (2009). "Neutropenia in rheumatoid arthritis: studies on possible contributing factors". Ann Rheum Dis. 41 (3): 242–7. PMID 6979979.

Template:WH Template:WS