Cell mediated autoimmune granulocytopenia in a case of Felty's syndrome.
A variety of mechanisms have been demonstrated or suggested to explain the neutropenia that accompanies Felty's syndrome. This case report presents with Felty's syndrome with recurrent infections with initially had a clinical response to splenectomy. Eleven years later profound neutropenia recurred. In-vitro evidence for cell mediated autosensitisation of peripheral blood lymphocytes to autologous bone marrow cells was found. The cellular abnormalities improved after high-dose corticosteroids but not lithium. However, there did not appear to be a reduction in the incidence of clinical infections. The finding suggests that granulocytopenia in some patients with Felty's syndrome may be an autoimmune phenomenon.
D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005258:Felty Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence