NEUTROPENIA IN THE NEONATE

Neutropenia, a below normal concentration of neutrophils in the circul ating blood, can be the kinetic result of diminished neutrophil produc tion, excessive neutrophil margination, or accelerated neutrophil util ization and destruction. The significance of neutropenia to the well-b eing of the subject is dependent, in part, on the responsible kinetic mechanism. In this review of the causes of neutropenia in newborn infa nts, the authors examine neutrophil production and kinetics in the hum an fetus and newborn infant. The recognized causes of neutropenia in n eonates are categorized and discussed according to their underlying ki netic mechanism.