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  • Title: Differential diagnosis and clinical course of autoimmune neutropenia in infancy: comparison with congenital neutropenia.
    Author: Taniuchi S, Masuda M, Hasui M, Tsuji S, Takahashi H, Kobayashi Y.
    Journal: Acta Paediatr; 2002; 91(11):1179-82. PubMed ID: 12463315.
    Abstract:
    AIM: Autoimmune neutropenia in infancy (AIN) is caused by granulocyte-specific autoantibodies. Clinical presentation and diagnosis have not been well studied, resulting in cumbersome diagnostic investigations and unnecessary treatment such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy. METHODS: Clinical, laboratory and immunological data of 18 infants with AIN were evaluated. Granulocyte-specific autoantibodies were detected by the direct granulocyte immunofluorescence test (D-GIFT), indirect granulocyte immunofluorescence test (I-GIFT) and immunoblotting. RESULTS: The average age of onset and resolution of neutropenia in AIN was 7.4 +/- 3.4 mo (mean +/- SD) and 20.4 +/- 4.9 mo, respectively. Sixteen of the 18 patients presented with mild infectious symptoms; the other 2 patients were detected by chance and presented with no infectious symptoms. D-GIFT was positive in all patients, and I-GIFT was positive in 17 of these 18 patients. Most patients showed preferential binding to neutrophils from NA(1 + 2-)-phenotyped donors by 1-GIFT and immunoblotting. An antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim) was given to 15 patients for prophylaxis. G-CSF was given to only one infectious patient. CONCLUSION: A combination of diagnostic tests for the detection of granulocyte-specific autoantibodies was useful in diagnosing AIN, thus avoiding unnecessary investigations. Continuous treatment with G-CSF was not necessary for prophylaxis, even if neutrophil counts were extremely low.
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