Click here to see a video of neutrophils in action. The majority of patients with a neutrophil defect will have a secondary deficiency i.e. the cause of the problem is not intrinsic to neutrophils. Neutropenia means low numbers of neutrophils in the blood and agranulocytosis means an absence of neutrophils. Primary neutrophil deficiencies are rare and are due to an abnormality, usually inherited, of the neutrophil itself. Patients with neutrophil defects suffer from recurrent chest infections with bacteria or fungi, recurrent skin abscesses often caused by Staphylococcus aureus and poor wound healing.
Treatment centres around the use of appropriate antibiotics and anti-fungal agents.
Interferon gamma helps prevent infection in chronic granulomatous disease.