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Case Report Review Synthesis: Cyclic Neutropenia Response to rhG-CSF in a Pediatric PatientA young girl with rare blood cycles found hope in a specific growth factor treatment

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Key Takeaway
Consider rhG-CSF for pediatric cyclic neutropenia, but recognize evidence is limited to a single case report.

This document functions as a review and synthesis based on a single case report involving a pediatric population. The scope focuses on the management of cyclic neutropenia, specifically examining the clinical course of a 7-year-old girl. The evidence level is identified as a case report, indicating preliminary observations rather than controlled trial data.

The intervention involved the administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combined with infection control and supportive care. The patient responded well to this treatment regimen. Follow-up duration is noted as awaiting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), meaning long-term outcomes remain pending. No specific adverse events or discontinuations were reported in the available data.

Authors note significant limitations regarding the generalizability of these findings to broader populations. The certainty of the evidence is low due to the single-case design. There is a caution against inferring causality beyond the specific instance of a de novo ELANE c.416C>T mutation causing cyclic neutropenia. Safety data regarding adverse events were not reported. Consequently, clinical application requires careful consideration of individual patient factors.

Practice relevance emphasizes that early and accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and long-term follow-up are critical to improve outcomes. Clinicians should interpret these results with caution given the observational nature of the evidence. The synthesis highlights the potential utility of rhG-CSF in this specific context while acknowledging the need for further investigation. Monitoring for response and safety remains essential during the treatment period.

Imagine a seven-year-old girl whose immune system goes into a dangerous cycle of crashes. Her white blood cell counts drop too low, leaving her vulnerable to infections. This is cyclic neutropenia, a rare condition caused by a specific genetic mutation. Doctors are always looking for ways to keep her safe and healthy between these cycles. In this review, a single case shows what happened when she received a specific growth factor called rhG-CSF along with careful infection control and supportive care. She responded well to this combination approach. No serious side effects were reported during her treatment period. She is currently awaiting a stem cell transplant for the long term. This story highlights how early diagnosis and individualized care plans are critical. It also reminds us that one success story does not prove a cure for everyone. More research is needed to confirm if this approach works for other children with this rare condition.

What this means for you:
One girl responded well to treatment, but this single case cannot yet guide care for others.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Childhood cyclic neutropenia (CN) is a rare hematopoietic disorder. We describe the clinical phenotype, diagnostic features, and management of a pediatric CN case caused by a de novo ELANE mutation, to improve clinical recognition and care. We retrospectively analyzed clinical, laboratory, and genetic data from a 7-year-old girl with CN, combined with bioinformatics and literature review to explore genotype–phenotype correlations and optimal therapy. The patient presented with classic 21−day cyclic episodes of fever, oral ulcers, and lymphadenopathy. Peripheral blood absolute neutrophil count (ANC) fell to 0.04×109/L at nadir, accompanied by monocytosis. Whole−exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous ELANE c.416C>T (p.Pro139Leu) variant. The Pro139 residue is highly conserved across species, and substitution is predicted to impair neutrophil elastase structure and function. The patient responded well to recombinant human granulocyte colony−stimulating factor (rhG−CSF) plus infection control and supportive care and is currently awaiting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Pediatric CN features periodic fever and mucosal infection. Diagnosis requires both cyclic neutropenia documented by serial monitoring and pathogenic ELANE variant confirmation. rhG−CSF remains first−line therapy. Identification of this de novo c.416C>T variant broadens the genotypic spectrum of ELANE-related CN. Early and accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and long−term follow−up are critical to improve outcomes.
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