Clinical and laboratory work-up of patients with neutrophil shortage or dysfunction

Neutrophils have a crucial function in the defense against bacteria and fun gi. Indeed, during chronic, severe neutropenia and in case of severe neutro phil dysfunctions, the patients may suffer recurrent and sometimes life-thr eatening infections. This article describes the clinical symptoms, the theo ry behind the antimicrobial systems of neutrophils, the methods to diagnose the various aberrations, and the possibilities for treating these patients . A few of the most common causes of neutropenia and neutrophil dysfunction s are described in detail, including recent genetic information regarding t he cause of these diseases. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.