title: Low absolute neutrophil counts in African infants.
abstract: Infants of African origin have a lower normal range of absolute neutrophil counts than white infants; this fact, however, remains under appreciated by clinical researchers in the United States. During the initial stages of a clinical trial in Malawi, the authors noted an unexpectedly high number of infants with absolute neutrophil counts that would be classifiable as neutropenic using the National Institutes of Health's Division of AIDS toxicity tables. The authors argue that the relevant Division of AIDS table does not take into account the available evidence of low absolute neutrophil counts in African infants and that a systematic collection of data from many African settings might help establish the absolute neutrophil count cutpoints to be used for defining neutropenia in African populations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 20241, USA. apk3@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Athena P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kourtis
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bramson
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Horst
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kazembe
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chasela
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseinipour
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Lebah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lugalia
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tegha
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joaki
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jafali
authors.forename: Denise J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jamieson
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009503:Neutropenia; D009504:Neutrophils; D044465:White People