A marked decrease in the number of granulocytes. Granulocytes
are a type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little
sacs containing enzymes that digest microorganisms.
G ranulocytes are part of the innate, somewhat non specific infection-fighting
immune system. They do not respond exclusively to specific antigens, as do B-cells
and T-cells.
Agranulocytosis results in a syndrome of frequent chronic bacterial infections
of the skin, lungs, throat, etc. Although "agranulocytosis" literally means no granulocytes,
there may, in fact, be some granulocytes but too few of them, i.e. granulocytopenia.
Agranulocytosis can be genetic and inherited or it can be acquired as, for example,
an aspect of leukemia.
Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are all types of granulocytes. They are
named by the staining features of their granules in the laboratory:
Neutrophils have "neutral" subtle granules;
Eosinophils have prominent granules that stain readily with the acid dye
eosin; and
Basophils have prominent granules that stain readily basic (non acidic)
dyes.
This classification dates back to a time when certain structures could be identified
in cells by histochemistry, but the functions of these intracellular structures
were still not yet fathomed. However, the classification of granulocytes into neutrophils,
eosinophils and basophils is still widely used (and quite useful).
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