investigation of mild neutropaenia

Last reviewed 01/2023

  • if mild neutropaenia is found in a patient who is on drug treatment that might predispose to neutropaenia or with a history of a recent viral infection, then observation (after substitution or withdrawal of medication if implicated in neutropaenia) may be appropriate
  • in neutropaenia secondary to non-immunosuppressive drug treatment or infection there should be a return to a normal neutrophil count after a period which may be days or weeks
  • if the neutropaenia co-exists with circumstances where the patient is severely unwell, or has thrombocytopaenia, anaemia, lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly then the patient should be referred for further investigation