Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia: an Egyptian case

Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder of elderly patients characterised by sustained neutrophilia. The diagnosis of CNL requires the exclusion of BCR/ABL positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia and leukemoid reaction. We present here a case of a 61-year-old Egyptian man with CNL and 21 months of follow-up. The main symptom of our patient was purpura. Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and lymph node enlargement were not detected at presentation or throughout the patient's course. Thrombocytopenia was a considerable problem in our patient, causing recurrent bleeding and affecting the hydroxyurea dose adjustment. While hydroxyurea decreased the total leucocytic count, it could not affect the fatal course of the disease. The survival course of our patient extended to 21 months after presentation. The cause of death was attributed to disease progression.