Diagnosis and management of neutropenia in children: consensus audit of
the “Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica” (AIEOP)
experts
Abstract
SUMMARY Neutropenia is a generic term that indicates a reduction of
neutrophils below the threshold for age and race. This condition
encompasses a number of diseases with a wide range of duration and
severity. In the present paper, the approach to diagnosis and treatment
of neutropenia has been reviewed and implemented with the knowledge
acquired during the last decade, by a group of experts, 10 years after
the first publication. The diagnostic itinerary highlights the most
important tools available to define the type of neutropenia and updates
the list of genes causative of the disease. In addition, the present
paper underlines the progresses towards a better definition of “primary
autoimmune neutropenia” without remission which often hides different
diseases. Moreover, indications on how to speed up neutropenia diagnosis
and the indications to perform the bone marrow examination in the
genetic forms, are given. The management and treatment of the
“well-known” diseases and “special situations” are also reviewed
giving literature derived and expert opinion-based suggestions tailored
on the single patient/diagnosis.