Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia

Abstract

In a study of 15 patients with severe absolute neutropenia of one to 19 years' duration there was no bone-marrow hypoplasia or splenomegaly, and the cause of the neutropenia was not apparent. These patients had no increase in the frequency of infections, and leukemia, lupus erythematosus and other serious disease did not develop. The neutropenia was chronic and did not respond to corticosteroids. This benign condition does not require therapy and should be recognized as such.