SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE NEUTROPENIA WITH CYCLOSPORINE-A

Chronic primary autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) is a distinct clinical en tity seen mostly in young children, characterized by persistent neutro penia with circulating anti-neutrophil antibodies and no associated di sorders known to produce AIN. Herein we report a 22-year-old male who spontaneously developed severe chronic neutropenia with recurrent epis odes of high fever and oral aphthous ulcers. Laboratory evaluations de tected the presence of anti-granulocyte autoantibodies directed agains t the NA1 neutrophil-specific antigen. Clinical, laboratory and roentg enographic testing did not reveal any disorder known to be associated with AIN. The patient's severe neutropenia did not respond to therapy with prednisone alone, but resolved following treatment with prednison e and high-dose cyclosporin A.