Neutropenia pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Daniel A. Gerber, M.D. [2]

Neutropenia may develop as a result of one of the three mechanisms: impaired granulocyte production, margination, and peripheral destruction. Genes involved in the pathogenesis of neutropenia include ELA2, HAX1, and CXCR4.

Neutropenia may develop as a result of one of the three mechanisms:^[1]

1. Impaired granulocyte production
   • Hematologic malignancy with bone marrow infiltration
   • Myelosuppressive chemotherapy or other medications that are toxic to the bone marrow
   • Nutritional deficiencies
2. Margination (process where free flowing blood cells exit circulation)
   • Splenic sequestration
   • Adherence to the vascular endothelium
3. Peripheral destruction
   • Autoimmune hemolysis
   • Drug-induced hemolysis

Genes involved in the pathogenesis of neutropenia include ELA2, HAX1, and CXCR4.