What is agranulocytosis?

What is agranulocytosis?

Agranulocytosis is a life-threatening blood disorder. It happens when the body doesn’t make enough of a type of white blood cells called neutrophils. White blood cells are part of the immune system. They protect the body from infection by fighting off germs that make us sick.

Also known as granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis is a severe form of neutropenia. Neutropenia is lower-than-normal levels of white blood cells. People with a low white blood cell count are very vulnerable to infection. They may get sick from germs that wouldn’t be harmful otherwise. Healthcare providers can treat agranulocytosis with medications. Untreated, the condition can lead to severe infections. It can even lead to sepsis (a severe reaction to infection) and death.