Curious Clinicians - Null Neutrophils

Curious Clinicians - Null Neutrophils is organized by VCU Health Continuing Education.

Date:
Monday, July 14, 2025, 11:00 AM - Thursday, December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM

Description:
Why is Duffy Null status associated with lower neutrophil counts?

What if we told you not everyone with a low neutrophil count is at a higher risk of infection? One cause of this fascinating phenomenon is known as the Duffy Null Associated Neutrophil Count, sometimes referred to as Duffy Null or DANC. It’s found in some individuals of African ancestry. It was previously named “Benign Ethnic Neutropenia,” but has largely been replaced by “Duffy-null associated neutrophil count” due to our understanding of the genetic basis of this condition and the medical community’s overall effort to move away from race-based medical terminology. Dr. Lauren Merz and others who have conducted extensive research on this condition have advocated for change and have largely achieved success.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

1. Understand why Duffy Null Associated Neutrophil Count replaced Benign Ethnic Neutropenia.
2. Apply the pathophysiology of Plasmodium vivax malaria to understand why Duffy Null Associated Neutrophil Count is more common in those with African ancestry.
3. Review the mechanism by which Duffy Null Associated Neutrophil Count leads to a lower neutrophil count than those whose red blood cells harbor the Duffy antigen.