Doctronic navigation menu Log In
Doctronic navigation menu

Contents
  • Understanding Cyclic Neutropenia
  • Symptoms and Complications
  • Diagnosing the Condition

Is Cyclic Neutropenia Affecting Your Health?

Is Cyclic Neutropenia Affecting Your Health?

What's This About?

Cyclic neutropenia is a rare condition characterized by recurring episodes of low neutrophil levels, leading to infections and other symptoms. Understanding this condition can help manage its effects on your health.
Contents
  • Understanding Cyclic Neutropenia
  • Symptoms and Complications
  • Diagnosing the Condition

Understanding Cyclic Neutropenia

Cyclic neutropenia is marked by periodic drops in neutrophil counts, typically every three weeks, leading to symptoms like fever and ulcers. The condition is linked to mutations in the ELANE gene, affecting neutrophil elastase and causing these cycles. Although rare, it affects both males and females equally and can be identified in childhood or adulthood.

Symptoms and Complications

Symptoms include recurrent fever, oral ulcers, and fatigue, occurring more than five times a year for many patients. While most feel well between episodes, some experience severe complications like necrotizing enterocolitis or sepsis. Fortunately, the risk of serious transformation into conditions like leukemia is low.
Cyclic neutropenia is a rare condition characterized by periodic reductions in neutrophil count, leading to recurrent infections and symptoms such as fever and oral ulcers. It is linked to mutations in the ELANE gene.

Diagnosing the Condition

Diagnosis involves observing the pattern of symptoms and conducting blood tests to identify neutrophil count cycles. Genetic testing for ELANE mutations is essential for a confirmed diagnosis, distinguishing it from other similar conditions.

FAQs

What is cyclic neutropenia?

It's a condition with recurring drops in neutrophil levels causing periodic symptoms.

Who is affected by cyclic neutropenia?

It affects both males and females, often appearing in childhood.

Are there serious risks?

Serious risks are low, but complications like sepsis can occur.

How is it diagnosed?

Through observing symptom patterns and genetic testing.

Key Takeaways

Understanding cyclic neutropenia's cycles can help manage its impact on health.
Talk with Doctronic to explore how cyclic neutropenia might be affecting you.
Additional References
  1. Bellanné-Chantelot C, et al. Mutations in the ELA2 gene correlate with more severe expression of neutropenia: a study of 81 patients from the French Neutropenia Register. Blood 2004; 103:4119.
  2. GeneReviews, Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al (Eds), University of Washington, Seattle 2018.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.