Purpose: Most children with autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) have a benign clinical course because of the spontaneous resolution of neutropenia. The authors observed the clinical course of AIN in infancy accompanied by the prophylactic use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) during neutropenia.
Patients and methods: Eight infants with AIN were followed by serial tests for antineutrophil antibodies and management of infectious complications.
Results: The spontaneous disappearance of antineutrophil antibodies that preceded the normalization of the neutrophil count was found in all patients. Until the resolution of neutropenia, TMP-SMX was administered in five patients, resulting in a reduction in the incidence of infection with no adverse effects.
Conclusions: These observations demonstrate the possibility of the safety and usefulness of TMP-SMX treatment in patients with AIN.