A number of conditions may result in acquired defects in neutrophil function, which may be associated with an increased risk for infection.
Possible neutrophil dysfunctions:
(1) defects in adhesion
(2) defects in cytoplasmic granules
(3) defect in motility and chemotaxis
(4) defects in phagocytosis and killing (defect in oxidative metabolism, other)
|
Condition |
adhesion |
granules |
motility |
killing |
|
advancing age |
yes |
|
|
|
|
alcoholism |
yes |
|
|
|
|
anti-inflammatory agents |
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
autoimmune disease |
|
|
yes |
yes |
|
bone marrow transplant |
|
|
yes |
yes |
|
burns, severe |
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
chronic infections |
yes |
|
yes |
yes |
|
colchicine therapy |
|
|
yes |
|
|
corticosteroids |
|
|
|
|
|
diabetes mellitus |
yes |
|
yes |
yes |
|
epinephrine |
|
|
|
|
|
graft vs host disease |
|
|
yes |
yes |
|
hematologic disorders |
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
interleukin-2 therapy |
|
|
yes |
|
|
malnutrition |
|
|
yes |
yes |
|
paraproteinemia |
yes |
|
|
|
|
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) |
|
|
yes |
|
|
pregnancy |
|
yes |
|
|
|
renal failure |
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
sickle cell anemia |
yes |
|
|
yes |
|
trauma and/or surgery |
|
yes |
|
yes |
where:
• Hematologic disorders include myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative disorders and AML.
• Chronic infections may be a chicken and egg situation (hard to know which came first) and may be associated with other conditions.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Clinical Laboratory
