Neutropenic enterocolitis in patients without leukemia.

BACKGROUND

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a serious complication involving the bowel in patients with severe neutropenia. Most of the patients are undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia.

METHODS

This is a report of three cases of nonleukemic neutropenic enterocolitis. In these cases neutropenia was caused by an analgesic (dipyrone), chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, and chemotherapy for lung carcinoma. Two patients were treated by surgery, one medically.

RESULTS

The patient with multiple myeloma who was treated by exteriorization of the sigmoid colon died on the tenth postoperative day of multiple organ failure caused by sepsis. The other two patients survived.

CONCLUSIONS

A review of the literature revealed 14 other patients without leukemia who had neutropenic enterocolitis. The cause, diagnosis, and possible treatment options of this entity are discussed.