Neutropenia Health Dictionary

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Neutropenia: From 2 Different Sources

A reduction in the number of neutrophil LEUCOCYTES per cubic millimetre of circulating blood to a ?gure below that found in health. There is still some disagreement over the precise limits of normality, but a count of fewer than 1,500 per mm3 would be generally accepted as constituting neutropenia. Several infective diseases are characterised by neutropenia, including typhoid fever (see ENTERIC FEVER), INFLUENZA and MEASLES. It may also be induced by certain drugs, including chloramphenicol, the sulphonamides and chlorpromazine.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary
n. an abnormal decrease in the number of *neutrophils in peripheral blood. Neutropenia may occur in a wide variety of diseases, including certain hereditary defects, aplastic *anaemias, tumours of the bone marrow, *agranulocytosis, and acute leukaemias. In cancer patients it is often due to the deleterious effects of *cytotoxic drugs on bone marrow cells. Neutropenia results in an increased susceptibility to infections; if patients become unwell, due to infection, this can lead to neutropenic sepsis, which can be life-threatening. —neutropenic adj.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Anaemia: Aplastic

Failure of the bone marrow to produce red cells because of infection, also neutropenia and depletion of platelets in the blood through chronic disease (TB etc) elsewhere in the body, or through chemicals in food and medicine. Other causes include food preservatives, X-ray radiation, fluoride in water supply and environmental pollution. The condition is serious.

Possibility of mercurial poisoning. A 59-year-old man employed filling thermometers with mercury developed aplastic anaemia and died. His urine contained 1.01mg mercury per litre. (D.R. Ryrie. Brit. Medical Journal, i/1970, 499. A similar report D.R. Wilson, ibid., ii/1966, 1534)

Symptoms. Headache, dizziness, pallor of skin, loss of weight and appetite, sore or burning tongue, jaundice, bruising, nose-bleeds. A low state of the immune system exposes the subject to infection. Treatment. Hospital supervision. Necessary to identify the causative toxic agent and eliminate it. Condition fails to respond to usual preparations of iron taken by mouth. No specific exists but supportive adaptogen herbs sustain and raise haemoglobin levels, marginally increasing red cells.

To facilitate elimination of toxic chemicals:– Teas: Alfalfa, Red Clover, German Chamomile, Ground Ivy, Milk Thistle, Gotu Kola, Nettles, Fennel.

Tea. Formula. Equal parts: Dandelion, Nettles, Alfalfa. 1 heaped teaspoon in each cup boiling water, infuse 10-15 minutes. One cup freely.

Decoction: Gentian – 1 teaspoon in cup cold water. Steep overnight; drink on rising.

Tinctures. To stimulate bone marrow. Formula: equal parts, Echinacea, Prickly Ash bark, Horsetail. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons thrice daily, taken in water or cup of one of the above teas.

Tincture Cinnamon BP (1949). Dose: 2-4ml (30-60 drops).

Powders. Combine: Gentian 1; Yellow Dock 1; Echinacea 2; Cinnamon quarter; Cayenne quarter. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon), before meals.

Liquid Extracts: Combine Echinacea 2; Black Cohosh half; Damiana 1; Ginger quarter. Dose: 1 teaspoon in cup Red Clover tea, before meals.

Diet. Dandelion coffee, high fibre, low fat, low salt, molasses, lamb’s liver. Foods containing Vitamin B12.

Supplements daily. Vitamin B12. Folic acid 400mcg, Vitamin C, Floradix. ... anaemia: aplastic

Captopril

n. a drug used in the treatment of heart failure, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy; it acts by inhibiting the action of angiotensin (see ACE inhibitor). Side-effects include rash, *neutropenia or *agranulocytosis, hypotension, and loss of taste.... captopril

Cytopenia

n. a deficiency of one or more of the various types of blood cells. See eosinopenia; erythropenia; lymphopenia; neutropenia; pancytopenia; thrombocytopenia.... cytopenia

Felty’s Syndrome

a disorder characterized by enlargement of the spleen (*splenomegaly), rheumatoid arthritis, and a decrease in the number of neutrophils in the blood (see neutropenia). [A. R. Felty (1895–1964), US physician]... felty’s syndrome

Granulocytopenia

n. a reduction in the number of *granulocytes (a type of white cell) in the blood. See neutropenia.... granulocytopenia

Kostmann’s Syndrome

(severe congenital neutropenia) a hereditary (autosomal *recessive) disorder characterized by severe *neutropenia. This results in frequent bacterial infections, and death often occurs before the age of six months.... kostmann’s syndrome

Lenalidomide

n. a drug, related to *thalidomide, that affects the immune response and has activity against tumour cell formation and *angiogenesis. It is used to treat multiple myeloma and certain types of *myelodysplastic syndromes. The most serious side-effects are deep vein thrombosis and neutropenia, and there is a risk of *teratogenesis (women capable of bearing children must practise contraception during treatment and for a month before and after it).... lenalidomide

Leucopenia

n. a reduction in the number of white blood cells (leucocytes) in the blood. See eosinopenia; lymphopenia; neutropenia.... leucopenia

Myelosuppression

n. a reduction in blood-cell production by the bone marrow. It commonly occurs after chemotherapy and may result in anaemia, infection, and abnormal bleeding (see thrombocytopenia; neutropenia). —myelosuppressive adj.... myelosuppression

Pancytopenia

n. a simultaneous decrease in the numbers of red cells (*anaemia), white cells (*neutropenia), and platelets (*thrombocytopenia) in the blood. It occurs in a variety of disorders, including aplastic *anaemias, *hypersplenism, and tumours of the bone marrow. It may also occur after chemotherapy or total body irradiation.... pancytopenia

Penia

combining form denoting lack or deficiency. Example: neutropenia (of neutrophils).... penia

Leukaemia

n. any of a group of malignant diseases in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of certain types of white blood cells (*leucocytes). Overproduction of these white cells, which are immature or abnormal forms, suppresses the production of normal white cells, red cells, and platelets. This leads to increased susceptibility to infection (due to *neutropenia), *anaemia, and bleeding (due to *thrombocytopenia). Other symptoms include enlargement of the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes.

Leukaemias are classified into acute or chronic varieties depending on the rate of progression of the disease. They are also classified according to the type of white cell that is proliferating abnormally; for example acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (see lymphoblast), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (see lymphocyte), acute myeloblastic leukaemia (see myeloblast), hairy-cell leukaemia (see hairy cell), and monocytic leukaemia (see monocyte). (See also myeloid leukaemia.) Leukaemias can be treated with *cytotoxic drugs or *monoclonal antibodies, which suppress the production of the abnormal cells, or occasionally with radiotherapy.... leukaemia


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