Alloimmune Neutropenia in a Neonate: Case Report and Review of Literature

Antibodies (Basel). 2022 Oct 3;11(4):63. doi: 10.3390/antib11040063.

Abstract

Neonatal alloimmune neutropenia, variably referred to in the literature as NAIN, FNAIN or NIN, is a disorder of neutrophil destruction in newborns similar to better-known conditions such as hemolytic disease of the newborn and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). Infants affected by this self-limiting condition can present asymptomatically or have a wide range of symptoms, from skin manifestations and mucositis to severe infections such as sepsis and pneumonia. In our case, we report an otherwise asymptomatic term infant born with severe neutropenia to a mother affected by COVID-19 in the 3rd trimester. However, it is unclear if COVID-19 contributed to our patients' neutropenia. Diagnostic testing eventually revealed the presence of anti-neutrophil antibodies, confirming the diagnosis of alloimmune neutropenia. The infant was conservatively managed with early discharge prior to resolution of neutropenia and close post-discharge follow up.

Keywords: alloimmune neutropenia; anti-neutrophil antibodies; neonatal neutropenia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.