Chronic idiopathic neutropenia. A cytofluorimetric method to detect antineutrophil antibodies

A cytofluorimetric method to detect antineutrophil antibodies was carried out in sixty adults suffering from chronic idiopathic neutropenia (5 patients with severe neutropenia, 16 with moderate neutropenia, 39 with mild neutropenia). Both the direct and the indirect tests were carried out using F(ab')2 goat anti-human FITC-conjugates immunoglobulins on whole blood samples. Fifteen patients (25%) were found to have antineutrophil antibodies both on the neutrophil surface and in serum. Most positive patients were suffering from severe neutropenia (4 patients) and moderate neutropenia (8 patients). Only four positive patients were suffering from infections.