Kostmann's syndrome

A bone marrow disorder that is mostly inherited, Kostmann's syndrome indicates a severe deficiency in neutrophils. Neutrophil is a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections. This condition is referred to as an autosomal recessive disorder of neutrophil production. It is also commonly known as severe congenital neutropenia. This condition leads to recurrent infections right from infancy as this condition is usually diagnosed just after the birth of a baby. Infection of the lungs, sinus glands and liver are common. There are several forms of neutropenia, of which Kostmann's syndrome or congenital neutropenia is common in kids.

People affected with this condition may develop fever and inflammation of the skin and gums. About 40% of the people affected by this disease have decreased bone density thus making the bones brittle. About 20% of the people with this condition are prone to develop leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome during adolescence. Seizures, heart and genital abnormalities may also be noticed in such patients. If not treated rightly, the condition could prove fatal. The syndrome is named after the Swedish doctor Kostmann who discovered it.

Kids suffering from this condition inherit an abnormal gene from each of their parent. Carriers of the gene do not experience any symptom and so until the child is born the parent wouldn't know that they carried such a gene.

Symptoms of Kostmann's syndrome

Severe neutrophil deficiency
Necrotic ulceration of genital mucosa
Necrotic ulceration of oral mucosa
Recurrent infection
Spleen congestion
Liver congestion

The disease can be diagnosed with blood tests, genetic testing and bone marrow tests. The physician might administer a substance called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF). This stimulates the bone marrow to produce more neutrophil. Other forms of treatment include Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), bone marrow transplant and antibiotics.

Leukopenia

Leukopenia is a condition wherein the leukocyte count in the blood is low. Low WBC or White Blood Cells indicate decrease in disease fighting cells circulating in the blood. Some of the common causes for low WBC count:

Viral infections Any viral infections may disrupt bone marrow function for a short duration thus producing low counts of white blood cells. Infections like typhoid, influenza may lower the white blood cell count.

Congenital disorders may weaken bone marrow function, a WBC spectrum test can confirm any such congenital disorder.

Kostmann's syndrome is a congenital disorder wherein the neutrophil production is low.

Myelokathexis Neutrophils fail to enter the blood stream.

Infectious disease HIV destroys the WBC and leaves the person susceptible to infections.

Malnutrition

Vitamin or mineral deficiencies

Parasitic diseases

Autoimmune disorders may destroy white blood cells or bone marrow cells.

Aplastic anemia In this condition the bone marrow does not produce enough of any of the cells including white blood cells. This condition may set in all of a sudden or can develop and progress gradually. Few drugs, pregnancy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can trigger this condition.

Lupus is an auto immune disease wherein the body fights with its own immune system thus destroying white blood cells.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to kill cancerous cells. They however destroy healthy white blood cells thus leaving the patient with low WBC count. This is one major reason why cancer patients are unable to fight diseases or infections in general.

Leukemia is a type of cancer wherein the body produces too many white blood cells that are abnormal. These white blood cells are not active white blood cells that can fight infections. People down with leukemia have low white blood cell count as their bone marrow is producing more of the abnormal white blood cells.

Cancer may also damage the bone marrow.

Hyperthyroidism An overactive thyroid can produce lower number of white blood cells. The medication used for thyroid can reduce the white blood cell count in the blood.

Liver disorder/Spleen disorder Hypersplenism, in which blood cells are destroyed prematurely by the spleen. An enlarged spleen also known as splenomegaly can trigger low white blood cell count.