White Blood Cell (WBC) Disorders Program
About us
White blood cell disorders affect the body’s white blood cells, or leukocytes, which are responsible for fighting off infection. Some white blood cell disorders, such as leukemia, are cancerous, while others are non-malignant, but still potentially dangerous. .
Our White Blood Cell Disorders Program provides comprehensive treatment for children with non-malignant white blood cell disorders. Children we treat have conditions that include:
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low white blood cell count and neutropenia, including
- “benign neutropenia of childhood”
- familial neutropenia
- autoimmune neutropenia
- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
- Kostmann syndrome (severe congenital neutropenia)
- Other genetic forms of neutropenia
- toxic effects of some prescription medications
- Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome and Kostmann syndrome are also treated through our Fanconi Anemia & Bone Marrow Failure Multidisciplinary Clinic.
- high white blood cell count
-
Leukocyte function defects (white blood cells that do not function properly), including
- chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)
- leukocyte adhesion deficiency
- myeloperoxidasae deficiency
- Chediak Higashi syndrome
Children who have other types of blood disorders, including bleeding disorders and bone marrow failure syndromes, are also treated through our Division of Hematology; please select a program from the list below for additional information:
- Anemia & RBC Disorders Program
- Boston Hemophilia Center
- Fanconi Anemia & Bone Marrow Failure Multidisciplinary Clinic
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome Specialty Care Program
- Platelet Function Disorder Program
- Sickle Cell Disease Program
- Thalassemia Program
- Thrombosis Program & Anticoagulation Service
In some cases, children with white blood cell disorders may also be treated through our Immunology Program.
Patients with malignant white blood cell disorders are treated through Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center. For information on malignant white blood cell disorders, visit one of the programs below:
