Neutropenia, Cyclic
Basics
Description
- A rare hematologic disorder characterized by recurrent fevers, mouth ulcers, and infections attributable to regularly recurring severe neutropenia
- Although inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, mutations in the gene for neutrophil elastase (ELA-2), sporadic mutations can occur; characterized by neutropenia that recurs every 14 to 35 days, with 90% of patients exhibiting a cycle of 21 days
- During the neutropenic period, blood neutrophil levels fall to <0.2 × 109/L for 3 to 5 days, before increasing to near the lower limit of normal, ~2 × 109/L.
Epidemiology
- Most patients present before the age of 5 years:
- 32% are <1 year of age.
- 27% are between ages 1 and 5 years.
- Occurs equally in both sexes
Incidence
1 to 2 in a million people
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Bone marrow during neutropenia demonstrates “maturation arrest” at the promyelocyte and myelocyte stage of development.
- At least 80% of cases of cyclic neutropenia are attributable to the mutations for neutrophil elastase (ELA-2/ELANE).
- This mutation results in accelerated apoptosis of neutrophil progenitors, making neutrophil production inefficient.
- It is not known if any other mutations can cause this disease.
- The cause of acquired cyclic neutropenia is unknown.
Genetics
- Autosomal dominant disorder with full penetrance but varying severity of clinical manifestations (expression)
- Most commonly sporadic
Risk Factors
- Family history is predictive, although patients proven to have the (ELA) mutation will lack positive family history due to subclinical presentation among family members, new mutation, or variability in expression.
- Neutropenia may also be inherited. This condition is called ethnic benign neutropenia because it is not associated with any type of infection.
General Prevention
Genetic counseling
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Neutropenia, Cyclic." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117539/all/Neutropenia__Cyclic.
Neutropenia, Cyclic. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117539/all/Neutropenia__Cyclic. Accessed November 6, 2024.
Neutropenia, Cyclic. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117539/all/Neutropenia__Cyclic
Neutropenia, Cyclic [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 November 06]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117539/all/Neutropenia__Cyclic.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Neutropenia, Cyclic
ID - 117539
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/117539/all/Neutropenia__Cyclic
PB - Wolters Kluwer
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DB - Medicine Central
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