ADULT-ONSET CYCLIC NEUTROPENIA - REPORT O F ONE CASE PRESENTING AS ANACUTE ILEITIS

Cyclic neutropenia is a rare disease in which blood neutrophils period ically decrease and almost disappear, ensuing acute infections of vari able severity. We report a 37 years old female presenting with severe abdominal pain, fever neutropenia. During a surgical abdominal explora tion, an acute ileitis was found. During a follow-up of 6.5 months, tr ansient episodes of neutropenia (mean count of 0.33X10(9)/l), every 22 -28 days, were detected. Coinciding with these episodes, band and segm ented neutrophils disappeared from the bone marrow and its response to functional stimulation with prednisone was insufficient. No cyclical changes in lymphocytes, monocytes and packed red cell volume were obse rved. The episodes of severe transient neutropenia and infections pers ist after three years of follow up.