Leukocytes in the blood

Leukocytes in the blood are one of the most important elements of blood, white, as they are called, blood cells are actually colorless. They are very diverse in structure and have many species and subspecies.

The name has Greek roots: leuko's denotes white, and ky'tos, respectively, is a cell. White blood cells have a nuclear structure, and the nuclei can be quite different in form - multi-lobed, rounded or in the form of a kidney. Also variable and their size - from 6 to 20 microns. Leukocytes in the blood have their normal limits, in an adult these limitations look like this: 4000 - 9000 in 1 microlitre. The lowering of their level is called leukopenia, and the increase is called leukocytosis.

White blood cells form in the main organ of hematopoiesis - the bone marrow. Analytical blood tests study the quantitative and percentage values, reading them according to the leukocyte formula (leukogram). Leukocytes in the blood have species and subspecies (granulocytes, agranulocytes and neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes) that participate in various parts of the defense process. Therefore, any changes in the leukogram give detailed information about the disease and help to specify the diagnosis.

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When leukocytes in the blood are elevated

Leukocytes in the blood are elevated (leukocytosis) most often due to physiological and pathological factors. Increase is considered a shift of the leukocyte formula - more than 9.0 x 109 / L.

Physiological factors of increase of leukocytes in blood

• Digestive - a natural phenomenon 2-3 hours after eating.
• Associated with physical overstrain.
• Thermal - temperature contrasts, for example, hot and cold showers.
• Psychoemotional.
• Associated with pregnancy or menstrual cycle.

For these reasons, for purity of analytical information, all tests for leukocytes in the blood are performed strictly on an empty stomach, excluding physical and emotional overloads, as well as various water contrast procedures.

Pathological factors of increase of leukocytes in blood

Infectious diseases: 

• Inflammation of the broncho-pulmonary system - bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy.
• Inflammatory diseases of the hearing aid - otitis media, neuritis of the auditory nerve.
• Infectious diseases of the skin, mucous membranes - erysipelas, exfoliative dermatitis.
• Inflammatory diseases of the brain, spinal cord - meningitis, encephalitis, AGM - brain abscess. 

Purulent processes of different etiology and localization: 

• Pleuritis, empyema.
• Peritonitis, appendicitis, pancreatitis in the acute stage.

Purulent processes in the subcutaneous tissue - abscesses, panaritium, phlegmon. 

• Oncoprocess.
• Lymphoblastic leukemia.
• Myeloblastic leukemia. 

Other diseases, injuries: 

• Burns.
• Heart heart attack.
• Infarction of the spleen, kidneys, lungs.
• Blood loss, including after a surgical operation.
• Renal failure.
• Diabetic coma.

Leukocytes in the blood - this is a principle indicator of the protective barrier, the activity of the protective function in principle, so the slightest inflammation in any organ or system leads to an increase in white blood cells.

When leukocytes in the blood are lowered

Leucocytes in the blood are lowered (leukopenia) - this shift of the leukocyte formula is below 4.0 x 10 ⁹ / l, which means a significant decrease in the activity of the formation of these cells by the bone marrow. Much less often, white blood cells are reduced due to collapse, shock, when they are destroyed in the vascular system.

Factors that contribute to the fact that leukocytes in the blood are lowered: 

• Radiation, radiation - damage to the bone marrow.
• Medicamentous intoxication - analgesics, NSAIDs, sulfonamides, agents for oncology processes - methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, thyroid gland medications - mercazolil, potassium perchlorate.
• Hypoplastic and aplastic pathology.
• Cirrhosis of the liver.
• Lymphogranulomatosis.
• Tuberculosis.
• Splenomegaly.
• Syphilis.
• Typhoid fever.
• TORCH infections (rubella, less often cytomegalovirus).
• Hepatitis.
• SLE - systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Oncoprocess with metastases to the bone marrow.
• The initial stage of leukemia.

The most dangerous is agranulocytosis, in which the leukocytes in the blood fall to a critical level. The organism at such quantitative index becomes practically defenseless before any infection.

Leukocytes in the blood are an important diagnostic indicator, but the functions they perform are much more important and significant. The protective barrier, phagocytosis and many other activities that perform these cells allow the human body to cope with many diseases independently.