Kostmann Disease 

  • Author: Michael S Tankersley, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, FAAP; Chief Editor: Harumi Jyonouchi, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 11, 2010
 

Background

Originally described in 1956 in a Swedish kindred, Kostmann disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of neutrophil number.[1] The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is characteristically less than 200/μL. Severe persistent neutropenia results in an increased susceptibility to frequent bacterial infections.

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Pathophysiology

Neutropenia refers to an ANC that is 2 or more standard deviations below the age-matched control mean. ANC is calculated by multiplying the total leukocyte count per milliliter by the percentage of neutrophils and immature neutrophil forms. Normal neutrophil levels differ according to age and race. In general, an ANC of 1000-1500/μL indicates mild neutropenia, 500-1000/μL indicates moderate neutropenia, and less than 500/μL indicates severe neutropenia. This classification is useful for predicting risk of infection.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

International

Neutropenia occurs in 1-2 cases per million population.

Mortality/Morbidity

The mortality rate is 70% within the first year of life in the absence of medical intervention with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), bone marrow transplantation, or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Race

Most of the initial patients reported by Kostmann were seen in Överkalix parish in northern Sweden, a geographic region with excessive inbreeding.

Sex

Incidence is equal in males and females.

Age

Classic Kostmann disease is recognized in early infancy.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Michael S Tankersley, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, FAAP  Program Director, Allergy and Immunology Fellowship; Division Chief, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas

Michael S Tankersley, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James M Oleske, MD, MPH  François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School

James M Oleske, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David J Valacer, MD  Consulting Staff, Hoffman La Roche Pharmaceuticals

David J Valacer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Thoracic Society, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Pallares, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville

David Pallares, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD  Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary Allergy/Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Medical Association, Clinical Immunology Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Society for Mucosal Immunology, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Kostmann R. Infantile genetic agranulocytosis (agranulocytosis infantilis hereditaria): a new recessive lethal disease in man. Acta Pediatr Scand. 1956;45:1-78.

  2. Carlsson G, van't Hooft I, Melin M, et al. Central nervous system involvement in severe congenital neutropenia: neurological and neuropsychological abnormalities associated with specific HAX1 mutations. J Intern Med. Oct 2008;264(4):388-400. [Medline].

  3. Weinblatt ME, Scimeca P, James-Herry A, et al. Transformation of congenital neutropenia into monosomy 7 and acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia in a child treated with granulocyte colony- stimulating factor. J Pediatr. Feb 1995;126(2):263-5. [Medline].

  4. Smith BN, Ancliff PJ, Pizzey A, Khwaja A, Linch DC, Gale RE. Homozygous HAX1 mutations in severe congenital neutropenia patients with sporadic disease: a novel mutation in two unrelated British kindreds. Br J Haematol. Mar 2009;144(5):762-70. [Medline].

  5. Chao JR, Parganas E, Boyd K, Hong CY, Opferman JT, Ihle JN. Hax1-mediated processing of HtrA2 by Parl allows survival of lymphocytes and neurons. Nature. Mar 6 2008;452(7183):98-102. [Medline].

  6. Germeshausen M, Grudzien M, Zeidler C, et al. Novel HAX1 mutations in patients with severe congenital neutropenia reveal isoform-dependent genotype-phenotype associations. Blood. May 15 2008;111(10):4954-7. [Medline].

  7. Dror Y, Sung L. Update on childhood neutropenia: molecular and clinical advances. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. Dec 2004;18(6):1439-58, x. [Medline].

  8. Putsep K, Carlsson G, Boman HG, Andersson M. Deficiency of antibacterial peptides in patients with morbus Kostmann: an observation study. Lancet. Oct 12 2002;360(9340):1144-9. [Medline].

  9. Baehner RL, Miller DR. Disorders of granulopoiesis. In: Blood Diseases of Infancy and Childhood. 1995:555-92.

  10. Barnes C, Gerstle JT, Freedman MH, Carcao MD. Clostridium septicum myonecrosis in congenital neutropenia. Pediatrics. Dec 2004;114(6):e757-60. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  11. Calhoun DA, Christensen RD. The occurrence of Kostmann syndrome in preterm neonates. Pediatrics. Feb 1997;99(2):259-61. [Medline].

  12. Carlsson G, Aprikyan AA, Tehranchi R, et al. Kostmann syndrome: severe congenital neutropenia associated with defective expression of Bcl-2, constitutive mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, and excessive apoptosis of myeloid progenitor cells. Blood. May 1 2004;103(9):3355-61. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  13. Dale DC, Cottle TE, Fier CJ, et al. Severe chronic neutropenia: treatment and follow-up of patients in the Severe Chronic Neutropenia International Registry. Am J Hematol. Feb 2003;72(2):82-93. [Medline].

  14. Hakki SS, Aprikyan AA, Yildirim S, et al. Periodontal status in two siblings with severe congenital neutropenia: diagnosis and mutational analysis of the cases. J Periodontol. May 2005;76(5):837-44. [Medline].

  15. Hsiao CC, Chen CL, Eng HL. Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in Kostmann's disease. Pediatr Surg Int. 1999;15(3-4):266-9. [Medline].

  16. Levine JE, Wiley J, Kletzel M, et al. Cytokine-mobilized allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplants in children result in rapid engraftment and a high incidence of chronic GVHD. Bone Marrow Transplant. Jan 2000;25(1):13-8. [Medline].

  17. Shekhter-Levin S, Penchansky L, Wollman MR, et al. An abnormal clone with monosomy 7 and trisomy 21 in the bone marrow of a child with congenital agranulocytosis (Kostmann disease) treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. Oct 15 1995;84(2):99-104. [Medline].

  18. Tidow N, Kasper B, Welte K. SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2 are dramatically increased at the protein level in neutrophils from patients with severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann's syndrome). Exp Hematol. Jun 1999;27(6):1038-45. [Medline].

  19. Welte K, Boxer LA. Severe chronic neutropenia: pathophysiology and therapy. Semin Hematol. Oct 1997;34(4):267-78. [Medline].

  20. Welte K, Dale D. Pathophysiology and treatment of severe chronic neutropenia. Ann Hematol. Apr 1996;72(4):158-65. [Medline].

  21. Yakisan E, Schirg E, Zeidler C, Bishop NJ, Reiter A, Hirt A, et al. High incidence of significant bone loss in patients with severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann's syndrome). J Pediatr. Oct 1997;131(4):592-7. [Medline].

 
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