eMedicine Specialties > Hematology > Immune System and Disorders

Granulocytopenia: Follow-up

Author: Kush Sachdeva, MD, Southern Oncology and Hematology Associates, South Jersey Healthcare, Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 8, 2009

Follow-up

Deterrence/Prevention:

  • Patients with neutropenia should avoid exposure to people with respiratory tract infections.
  • Neutropenic individuals should avoid overcrowded areas.
  • Patients should wear a facemask in public places if their ANC is less than 1000/mm3.

Prognosis:

  • The prognosis of a patient with neutropenia depends on the underlying cause of their neutropenia. Improved broad-spectrum antibiotic agents, combined with improved supportive care, have improved the prognosis for most patients with severe neutropenia. Ultimately, patient survival depends on the recovery of adequate neutrophil numbers.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to treat neutropenic fevers on an outpatient basis with extreme caution
  • Failure of the neutropenic individual to be reliable and failure to have strong support at home by family and friends
  • Failure to fit the patient criteria for low-risk neutropenia (see Medical Care)
  • Failure to properly inform the patient about the seriousness and complications of neutropenic infections
  • Failure to acknowledge a fever and to offer appropriate on-time care, thereby allowing the neutropenic patient's condition to become life threatening
 


More on Granulocytopenia

Overview: Granulocytopenia
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Granulocytopenia
Treatment & Medication: Granulocytopenia
Follow-up: Granulocytopenia
Multimedia: Granulocytopenia
References
Further Reading
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Keywords

granulocytopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, granulopenia, leukopenia, hypogranulocytosis, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, granulocytes, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, GCSF, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, GM-CSF

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Kush Sachdeva, MD, Southern Oncology and Hematology Associates, South Jersey Healthcare, Fox Chase Cancer Center Partner
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Karen Seiter, MD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology/Hematology, New York Medical College
Karen Seiter, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, and American Society of Hematology
Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Schering Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Cephalon Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Troy H Guthrie, Jr, MD, Director of Cancer Institute, Baptist Medical Center
Troy H Guthrie, Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Society of Hematology, Florida Medical Association, Medical Association of Georgia, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP, Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems
Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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