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Agranulocytosis

• Overview
• Symptoms

Definition:

Agranulocytosis is when a person does not have enough white blood cells called neutrophils or granulocytes .

Alternative Names:

Granulocytopenia; Granulopenia; Neutropenia

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Agranulocytosis can be caused by a failure of the bone marrow to make enough neutrophils. It may also occur when white blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced.

• Review Date: 2/6/2007
• Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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