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Typhoid feverTuberculosisHepatitis BHIV, the virus that causes AIDSMedicines " � Many medicines can cause neutropenia. Some examples include:- Medicines used to treat cancer, such as cyclophosphamide (brand name: Cytoxan) and doxorubicin (brand name: Adriamycin)
- Clozapine (brand names: Clozaril, FazaClo)
- Sulfasalazine (brand name: Azulfidine)
- Ticlodipine (brand name: Ticlid)
Vitamin deficiencies " � Some vitamins help the body make neutrophils. Folic acid, vitamin B12, and copper are examples. You could have low levels of these vitamins if you are a strict vegetarian or have weight reduction surgery and do not take supplements.Problems with your infection-fighting system " � The body's infection-fighting system is also called the "immune system. " � Normally, the immune system kills germs and other bad cells that could turn into cancer. But sometimes, the immune system attacks healthy cells, including white blood cells. This condition is known as "autoimmune neutropenia. " �People from certain ethnic groups can have a low neutrophil count, but they have no health problems from this condition. This is called "benign ethnic neutropenia. " �
Will I need tests? " � Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation. � �
Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of neutropenia: � �
- A blood test that looks at all the different types of white blood cells in your blood. It is called a "complete blood count with white blood cell differential " � or "CBC with diff. " � The number of neutrophils is called the "absolute neutrophil count. " �
- Bone marrow biopsy " � A doctor will take a very small sample of the bone marrow from your hip bone. Then another doctor will look at the cells under a microscope. Only some people need this test. Your doctor is most likely to do this test if you have a very low neutrophil count or other abnormal blood cells.
How is neutropenia treated? " � The treatment depends on what caused you to get neutropenia. � �
If your neutropenia was caused by a medicine you took, your doctor might have you stop taking the medicine. He or she might be able to switch you to a different medicine that is less likely to cause the problem. � �
Your doctor might also prescribe drugs that help your bone marrow make white blood cells. These drugs are given in a shot and include: � �
- Filgrastim (brand name: Neupogen)
- Sargramostim (brand name: Leukine)
Your doctor will tell you how concerned you need to be about serious infections. If you are at risk for serious infections, you 'll need to get to a doctor or hospital right away if you have a fever or other symptoms of infection. For people who have neutropenia from chemotherapy and get a fever, it is very important to get to the hospital right away to be treated for infection. � �
Am I at increased risk for blood cancer? " � Despite some information that is out there, the answer for most people is no. Rarely, people who were born with some forms of severe neutropenia have a very slightly increased risk of a type of blood cancer called "acute myeloid leukemia. " � But this risk is small and applies only to a small group of people who are born with neutropenia, not people who get it later in life. Medicines to help your bone marrow make more white blood cells do not increase the risk of getting acute myeloid leukemia either. � �
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 82906 Version 5.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.206 � �
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