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agranulocytosis
(a-gran″u-lo-si-to´sis)
an acute disease characterized by severely decreased production of granulocytes, with neutropenia that leaves the body defenseless against bacterial invasion. The first symptoms are usually related to severe infection and
include high fever, chills, prostration, and ulcerations of mucous membranes such as in the mouth, rectum, or vagina. Most
cases are caused by drugs or chemicals that affect a person's bone marrow and depress formation of granulocytes. Called also malignant or pernicious leukopenia and idiopathic or malignant neutropenia.

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