Infantile genetic agranulocytosis, morbus Kostmann: Presentation of six cases from the original "Kostmann family" and a review

In 1956 Rolf Kostmann reported on six children with severe neutropenia asso ciated with a block in myelopoiesis at the promyelocyte/myelocyte stage and an autosomal recessive inheritance. He named the new syndrome infantile ge netic agranulocytosis. Today it is known as Kostmann's syndrome or severe c ongenital neutropenia. In 1975 an additional 10 cases from northern Sweden were published. This article reports on the only long-term survivor from th e 1975 report plus another five patients born after 1975 who belong to the original "Kostmann family". Treatment and survival have changed dramaticall y since Kostmann's first publication. In the pre-antibiotic era, Kostmann's syndrome was inevitably fatal during the first year of life. Conclusion: Since the introduction of recombinant human granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (G-CSF) about 10 y ago, most patients now enjoy a normal life span and a greatly improved quality of life. Although the threat of d eath has disappeared, patients still have problems with infections, especia lly chronic gingivitis and periodontitis. In other groups of severe neutrop enia, not related to the original "Kostmann family", an increased incidence of myeloid leukaemia has been observed. However, in this small cohort none of the children on chronic G-CSF therapy have developed malignancies.