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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffNeutropenia may be caused by:
- Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow
- Congenital disorders characterized by poor bone marrow function
- Viral infections that disrupt bone marrow function
- Autoimmune disorders that destroy neutrophils or bone marrow cells
- Overwhelming infections that use up neutrophils faster than they can be produced
- Drugs that destroy neutrophils or damage bone marrow
Possible causes of neutropenia include:
- Alcoholism
- Aplastic anemia
- Chemotherapy
- Chronic idiopathic neutropenia in adults
- Drugs, such as antibiotics and diuretics
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Hypersplenism, a premature destruction of blood cells by the spleen
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Kostmann's syndrome, a congenital disorder involving low neutrophil production
- Leukemia
- Lupus
- Lyme disease
- Malaria
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myelofibrosis
- Myelokathexis, a congenital disorder involving failure of neutrophils to enter the bloodstream
- Other autoimmune disorders
- Other congenital disorders
- Other infectious diseases
- Other parasitic diseases
- Radiation therapy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Salmonella infection
- Sepsis
- Syndrome-associated neutropenia
- Vitamin deficiencies
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
References
- Reagan JL, et al. Why is my patient neutropenic? Hematology Oncology Clinics of North America. 2012;26:253.
- Neutropenia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/hematology_and_oncology/neutropenia_and_lymphocytopenia/neutropenia.html. Accessed Nov. 8, 2012.
- Prchal JT, et al. Williams Hematology. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=69. Accessed Nov. 2, 2012.
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