Elevated white blood cells

Increased leukocytes are a clear signal of the invasion of foreign elements into the human body, since these cells are the main defenders of organs and systems from all kinds of diseases and instantly react to the attack of viruses and bacteria.

They are able to move independently and, with the help of their specific types, recognize, hydrolyze (ferment), process and remove harmful protein elements and microorganisms. This group of white blood cells is practically colorless. White blood cells function practically throughout the entire body - in the bloodstream, mucous membranes, organ tissues, and also in the lymph. White blood cells are divided into types and subtypes that perform certain specific functions:

1. Lymphocytes are responsible for producing antibodies, which in turn neutralize viruses, bacteria and their toxins. Antibodies are also divided by function, some are capable of defeating only certain elements, others are multifunctional - they fight several pathogens.
2. Monocytes perform phagocytic activity as soon as they leave the bloodstream, becoming macrophages. They absorb harmful agents and their waste products, and also point them out to their other leukocyte "brothers".
3. Neutrophils perform phagocytosis more thoroughly and extensively than monocytes. In addition to destroying viruses and bacteria, they perform detoxification - remove processed substances and disinfect the body.
4. Eosinophils participate in homeostasis (self-regulation of body systems), secrete an antihistamine substance - an enzyme that breaks down inflammatory mediators, neutralize, and cleanse the body of decay products.
5. Basophils participate in the immune response to the invasion of a harmful agent - they secrete granules that cause allergic symptoms. Basophils also adsorb immunoglobulin E secreted by lymphocytes and plasma cells, and when the allergen invades again, basophils secrete histamine, heparin and serotonin.

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What is the normal level of leukocytes in the human body?

Normal limits are considered to be within the following indicators - 4-9x10 ⁹. It is also important to consider the quantitative ratio of species and subspecies - the leukocyte formula:

• Lymphocytes – 19-38%;
• Monocytes – 2-11%;
• Eosinophils – 0.5-5%;
• Number of basophils – 0.1%;
• Band neutrophils – 1-6%;
• Segmented neutrophils – 47-72%.

Any change in the formula (shift) indicates a possible pathological process. Increased leukocytes are called leukocytosis, which is divided into two categories according to the specific factors that provoke it. Factors can be physiological, that is, caused by natural reasons, as well as pathogenic.

Elevated leukocytes due to physiological factors

• Digestive (food intake, especially protein). The norm for this factor is considered to be indicators that do not exceed the upper limit of the norm (on average, an increase of 1-3 thousand in 1 µl). During digestion, they accumulate in the small intestine in order to create a barrier to the penetration of harmful agents into the lymph and bloodstream. In this case, increased leukocytes are a normal phenomenon;
• Physical factor. During intense physical activity, white blood cells can increase 5 times, since the activity activates the process of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. The cells rush to muscle tissue, this function is of a redistribution nature. The physical factor is also called myogenic (muscular);
• Emotional factor. White blood cells may increase under severe stress, but their level is only slightly above the norm;
• A natural factor during pregnancy. The cells rush into the submucous tissue of the uterus in order to activate its contraction, since any introduction into it is temporarily considered threatening, even an embryoblast, a fetus. They also protect the uterus from the invasion of infections.

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Increased leukocytes due to pathological factors

• Infectious processes – sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis;
• Infections of the cellular structure of the immune system – lymphocytosis, mononucleosis;
• Processes that provoke an acute immune reaction – collagenosis, serum sickness, glomerulonephritis;
• Inflammatory processes of microbial etiology, purulent-septic processes (phlegmon, peritonitis);
• Inflammatory processes associated with systemic diseases of connective tissue – rheumatoid arthritis, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus);
• Intoxication (food, gas, chemical, medicinal);
• Organ necrosis (myocardial infarction, pulmonary infarction, intestinal infarction, kidney infarction), pancreatic necrosis;
• Burns of more than 10% of the skin;
• Uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis;
• Blood loss, including after surgery;
• Oncologic processes, except those that are accompanied by metastases to the bone marrow (this is, as a rule, leukopenia - a decrease in the level of white blood cells).

It should be noted that the above factors provoke increased leukocytes in people. With a relatively healthy immune system. The body of elderly people with chronic diseases that weaken the immune system, as well as people suffering from chemical addiction (alcoholism, drug addiction) reacts weakly to pathological factors in terms of leukocyte activity.

Elevated leukocytes are usually an increase in the number of the most active leukocyte types - neutrophils, other subtypes are increased much less often. Leukocytosis caused by changes in the number of morphological types:

• Increased leukocytes (neutrophilic leukocytosis). The absolute number of neutrophils increases in the vascular bed in hemoblastosis (bone marrow diseases), acute infections, and chronic forms of the inflammatory process;
• Eosinophilic leukocytosis occurs with allergies, often as a reactive response of the immune system to vaccinations or medications;
• Increased leukocytes (basophilic) are typical for the period of pregnancy, latent form of hypothyroidism, myxedema, UC - nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
• Increased leukocytes (lymphocytic) are possible with viral hepatitis, whooping cough, syphilis, brucellosis, tuberculosis;
• Increased leukocytes (monocytic) are observed very rarely and indicate sarcoidosis, an oncological process.

Elevated leukocytes are most often a consequence of infections affecting immune system cells. A leukocyte response in the form of an increase in the number in the acute period of the disease is much more favorable in terms of therapeutic prognosis than leukopenia, which indicates a weak resistance of the body. It should also be taken into account that leukocytosis can be absolute (mobilization), redistribution (most often in the phylum of physiological factors) and relative (blood thickening). A significant excess of the normal limits (hundreds of thousands of units) indicates a clonal neoplastic disease - leukemia.

Elevated leukocytes are not a disease, they are one of the indicators of the protective function of the immune system. It is incorrect and wrong from a medical point of view to talk about the treatment of elevated leukocytes. The treatment method is directly related to the etiology of leukocytosis, that is, to the underlying disease.

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