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Agranulocytosis
Definition
Agranulocytosis means a failure of the bone marrow to make enough white blood cells (neutrophils). Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that helps form blood cells.
Alternative Names
Granulocytopenia; Granulopenia; Neutropenia
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Agranulocytosis is one cause of a person not having enough of a specific type of white blood cells, called neutrophils or granulocytes.
A low neutrophil count (neutropenia) may also occur when white blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced.
Symptoms
Persons with this condition are more likely to develop infections.
Signs and tests
See: Blood differential test
Review Date:
7/11/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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