When are leukocytes lowered?

"Leukocytes are lowered" - this phrase, certainly, causes alarm. Any abnormality in the analysis of blood composition can signal a disease, chronic or acute. Depending on the level of deviation from normal boundaries, the results of laboratory studies are interpreted from the quantitative indices of titres.

Leukocytes are one of the three main types of cellular elements in the blood. Erythrocytes are called red cells, platelets are blood plates, and white blood cells are not quite correctly called white blood cells, although they have no color at all. They are different in size and shape, this is due to the stages of their functioning. In addition, these cells move freely enough on the bloodstream, easily overcoming the capillary wall and penetrating the tissues. So they perform their main task - protection from external malicious agents, as well as from internal ones. The mechanism of absorption of foreign particles, as well as their processing - digestion is called phagocytosis. If the attack is very extensive, the phagocytes, absorbing antigens, increase to the extent of self-destruction. Toxins that were inside get into the blood and tissues, the inflammatory process begins. To the place of inflammation, new defenders hurry, which also die, absorbing harmful agents, the process repeats. In this struggle, they die quickly and in large numbers, the mass of dead white blood cells - this is purulent congestion.

If the results of the analysis say "leukocytes are lowered," then what is their norm?

The norm is calculated by a special formula and, depending on the age, looks like this: 

• Men, women 4,0-9,0 × 109 / l; 
• Children from 6 to 10 years old - 6.0-11.0 × 109 / l; 
• Children from 1 to 3 years old - 6.0-17.0 × 109 / l; 
• Newborn babies - 9 to 30 × 109 / l.

Leukocytes are divided into granular (granulocytes) and non-grained (agranulocytes) species. Granulocytes in turn are divided into eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils. Neutrophils also have their own subdivision, depending on the shape of the nucleus. These subspecies are named in accordance with the type of nucleus-segment-nuclear and stab-nucleated. The second type - non-grainy branched over such minigroups: monocytes, that is, large, and lymphocytes, that is small. Each subspecies has a clear task, any change in their number or other parameters gives biochemical information.

It is not difficult to guess that the onset of the inflammatory process is accompanied by elevated rates when their resources are not yet depleted. Accordingly, the words of the doctor, who says the phrase "leukocytes are lowered," indicates the depletion of the protective resource of the body, and this in turn is a direct indication of a chronic, long pathological process. A condition where leukocytes are lowered is called leukopenia. Leukopenia is an alarming sign that the main organ of hematopoiesis - the bone marrow is not able to produce the right, normal amount of these cells.

When leukocytes are lowered, this may indicate such pathologies and disorders in the body's work: 

• Onkoprotsess, accompanied by metastases in the bone marrow; 
• The first stage of leukemia is a neoplastic tumor blood disease; 
• Anemia with deficiency of vitamin B12; 
• SLE - systemic lupus erythematosus; 
• Hyperplenism - an increase in the spleen; 
• Hypoplastic or aplastic bone marrow pathology; 
• Disease of viral etiology; 
• Medication intoxication (sulfonamides, antibiotics); 
• Radiation sickness.

What reasons can lead to such laboratory conclusion, as "leucocytes are lowered"? 

• Chronic general exhaustion of the body; 
• Radiation irradiation; 
• Prolonged, sometimes uncontrolled reception of medicines; 
• The final therapeutic stage in the treatment of influenza, typhoid, measles, malaria, rubella; 
• Oncoprocess; 
• Anaphylaxis.

Signs, symptoms of leukopenia: 

• Changes in the pulse, its frequency; 
• Chronic weakness, malaise; 
• Elevated temperature of unclear etiology; 
• Chronic headaches; 
• Fever, chills; 
• Enlarged lymph nodes, tonsils.

As a rule, if the results of the analysis read "leukocytes are lowered", they are interpreted in combination with information from other surveys. It is also possible to administer bone marrow biopsy depending on the degree of severity of leukopenia-cyclic, moderate, severe, or extremely severe.

Leukocytes are lowered, certainly, the disturbing information, however it is a part of diagnostic complex actions, and to do or make conclusions, to put the exact diagnosis only the doctor should.