Evaluation of neutropenia

Last reviewed: 6 Apr 2025
Last updated: 09 Apr 2024

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Sepsis
  • Typhoid infection
  • Brucellosis
  • HIV infection
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Influenza infection
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus infection
  • Erythema infectiosum
  • Rickettsial diseases
  • Drug-induced
  • Cytotoxic chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Immune neutropenia
  • Acute myelogenous leukemia
  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Infiltration by secondary malignancy
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Vitamin B12/folate deficiency
  • Alcohol-use disorder
Full details

Uncommon

  • Cytomegalovirus infection
  • Rubella
  • Measles infection
  • Acute varicella-zoster (Chicken pox)
  • Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis
  • Malaria infection
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Transfusion reaction
  • Copper deficiency
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Sjogren syndrome
  • Felty syndrome
  • Increased neutrophil margination
  • Laboratory artifact
  • Bone marrow failure syndromes
  • Isolated neutropenia syndromes
  • Immunodeficiency syndromes
  • Inborn errors of metabolism
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Edward Copelan, MD, FACP

Professor and Chairman

Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders

Levine Cancer Institute

Carolinas HealthCare System

Charlotte

NC

Disclosures

EC declares that he has no competing interests.

Belinda Avalos, MD

Professor and Vice-Chair

Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders

Levine Cancer Institute

Carolinas HealthCare System

Charlotte

NC

Disclosures

BA declares that she is on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Hematology.

Reed Friend, MD

Assistant Professor

Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders

Levine Cancer Institute

Carolinas HealthCare System

Charlotte

NC

Disclosures

RF declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Edward Copelan, Dr Belinda Avalos, and Dr Reed Friend would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Lisa Sproat, the previous contributor to this topic.

Disclosures

LS declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Sally E. Kinsey, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, FRCPCH

Professor of Paediatric Haematology

University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

St. James's University Hospital

Leeds

UK

Disclosures

SEK is a medical advisory board member of the Severe Chronic Neutropenia International Registry (not remunerated) and is an author of references cited in the topic including data from the registry. SEK has been in receipt of educational grants from Chugai Pharma.

Laurence A. Boxer, MD

Professor

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Associate Chair

Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases

Henry and Mala Dorfman Family Professorship

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Ann Arbor

MI

Disclosures

LAB is an author of references cited in this topic. LAB declares that he has no competing interests.

Cornelia Zeidler, MD

SCNIR

DCC Europe

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Kinderklinik

Hannover

Germany

Disclosures

Not disclosed.

References

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Key articles

Boxer LA, Newberger PE. A molecular classification of congenital neutropenia syndromes. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007 Oct 15;49(5):609-14.Full text  Abstract

Cham B, Bonilla MA, Winkelstein J. Neutropenia associated with primary immunodeficiency syndromes. Semin Hematol. 2002 Apr;39(2):107-12. Abstract

Taplitz RA, Kennedy EB, Bow EJ, et al. Outpatient management of fever and neutropenia in adults treated for malignancy: American Society of Clinical Oncology and Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2018 May 10;36(14):1443-53.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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