MEDICINE Study Guide - Final Guide: Cyclic Neutropenia, Infectious Mononucleosis, Agranulocytosis

• School: Kerala University of Health Sciences - KUHS
• Department: Psychology
• Course: MEDICINE

Document Summary

Agranulocytosis (granulocytopenia, agranulocytic angina, malignant leukopenia or neutropenia) Agranulocytosis is a serious disease involving the white blood cells. It is characterized by decreased number of circulating granulocytes. It is often classified with reference to etiology as: primary, secondary. Primary agranulocytosis being that form of the disease in which the etiology is unknown. Secondary agranulocytosis being that form in which the cause is recognized. Since the clinical and laboratory findings in both forms are identical. The most common known cause of agranulocytosis is the ingestion of any one of a considerable variety of drugs and infections. Patients commonly manifest idiosyncrasy in the form of urticaria, cutaneous rashes and edema. In drug-induced agranulocytosis, the drug may act as a hapten and induce antibody formation. Thus produced antibodies destroy the granulocytes or may form immune complexes which bind to the neutrophils and destroy them. Autoimmune neutropenia due to antineutrophil antibodies is seen in few cases.