Leukocytes are the main element of the immune system. They protect the body from infections, as well as from cancer cells. In some cases, the number of white blood cells exceeds the norm. This may be physiologically normal, but if a person feels unwell for several days, he should immediately consult a doctor.
What are leukocytes, their role, types
Leukocytes or, as they are also called, “white blood” perform the protective function of the body, destroying waste, toxins, viruses, bacteria and foreign bodies. They are a kind of line of defense that not only prevents the infection from spreading, but also destroys it.
White blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. Passing through a series of intermediate stages of development, mature cells that are capable of fighting infection enter the blood. However, their lifespan is quite short (varies from 4 to 20 days), so updating occurs regularly. A sharp increase in the production of leukocytes occurs in response to any tissue damage or the occurrence of harmful agents in order to provide a timely inflammatory response, the purpose of which is to isolate the damage, destroy the pathogen and restore tissue.
Cells of the leukocyte series are divided into 5 types, each of which has individual characteristics and functions:
- Basophils. This is the smallest group of leukocytes, which not only helps other cells detect foreign agents, but also prevents their spread in the body, neutralizes toxins and poisons and suppresses allergens;
- Eosinophils. They are the main effector cells in infectious, parasitic, allergic and oncological diseases. They are the ones who release mediators that are toxic to tissues and support inflammation;
- Monocytes. This is the largest type of leukocyte, the main function of which is phagocytosis, in other words, absorption, including quite large foreign particles;
- Lymphocytes. They, perhaps, perform one of the most important protective functions - they are responsible for immunity. They are the ones who produce antibodies that prevent recurrence of the disease. They make up from 25 to 40% of the total mass of leukocytes in the blood;
- Neutrophils. These are unique universal fighters who are able to leave the bloodstream and rush towards infection, actively promoting inflammation. This is the largest group of leukocytes that have the ability to absorb and destroy foreign particles.
Indications for prescribing a leukocyte test
Since leukocyte analysis is carried out as part of a general blood test, every person who monitors their health undergoes it on a regular basis. These people also include pregnant women: in the absence of any signs of disease, they undergo this study regularly so that diseases and abnormalities in the development of pregnancy can be identified in advance.
In addition to medical examination, the analysis is taken during hospitalization and before surgery in order to conduct a basic examination and obtain information about the general condition of the body. As part of the diagnosis, a general analysis is prescribed if inflammatory processes in the body, parasitic infestations, infectious diseases and allergic reactions are suspected. Certain changes in the leukocyte composition may indicate oncology and serve as a reason for a more in-depth study.
This analysis is also used to assess the quality of treatment; the composition of the blood determines the effectiveness of the current drug therapy: perhaps the chosen plan does not help and needs to be adjusted.
Allergy
This is the main cause of eosinophilic leukocytosis. Entry of an allergen into the body causes IgE-mediated degranulation of mast cells with the release of mediators of allergic inflammation - leukotrienes, histamine, etc. One of the main functions of eosinophils is to suppress the production of inflammatory mediators, therefore any allergic reaction is accompanied by an increase in the level of eosinophils.
The maximum level of eosinophilia is achieved at the time of exacerbation of the allergic reaction, then it gradually decreases as symptoms regress and returns to normal levels during the remission stage. In most allergic diseases (bronchial asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis), moderate leukocytosis is observed. Only with the development of systemic reactions (Stevens-Jones syndrome, DRESS syndrome) can high leukocytosis occur.
Preparing for analysis
The number of leukocytes in the blood depends on many factors, and the most important of them is age. Children have many more immune cells than adults. The time of day, diet and medications taken also affect. The situation is different in the case of gender - in men and women the leukocyte composition of the blood is approximately the same. The distribution norms for groups of leukocytes in a healthy person look like this:
- Basophils, as the smallest group, make up only 0.5 - 1% of the total number of leukocytes in one microliter of blood;
- Eosinophils occupy a slightly larger portion - 2.5%;
- Monocytes make up 5%;
- Lymphocytes belong to one of the most numerous groups and make up approximately 35% of the total number of leukocytes;
- Neutrophils are the most numerous group, accounting for 55%.
Leukocyte analysis is included in the general blood test, where leukocyte indicators reflect their total number. As already mentioned, age is very important when conducting analysis. The following standards exist for children:
- Newborn (1 - 3 days) - from 7 to 32 × 109 units per liter (U/l)
- Age up to 12 months - from 6 to 17.5 × 109 U/l
- Age from 1 to 2 years - from 6 to 17 × 109 U/l
- Age from 6 to 16 years - from 4.5 to 13.5 × 109 U/l
In adult men, the norm ranges from 4.2 to 9 × 109 U/l, and in adult women - from 3.98 to 10.4 × 109 U/l. In the elderly, the number of leukocytes decreases sharply, and for men the norm is from 3.9 to 8.5 × 109 U/l, and for women - from 3.7 to 9 × 109 U/l.
Revealing
The syndrome may not have pronounced symptoms. If this form is mild, they will not exist at all. If the number of white blood cells decreases significantly, infectious pathologies will begin to develop.
One of the symptoms of the syndrome is a feverish state. This is due to infectious effects, the body’s reaction to chemotherapy drugs taken, or a tumor.
Among the symptoms of the syndrome:
- Feeling weak;
- State of dizziness;
- The mucous membranes bleed;
- Hemorrhages appear on the skin, some others.
Serious infectious consequences include sepsis and septic shock.
A low white blood cell count is detected by a blood test.
Pulmonary hemorrhage
Complete blood count for leukocytes
Clinical analysis of leukocytes, which is also called general, gives a detailed description of the qualitative and quantitative composition of blood, namely: characteristics of red blood cells and their indicators, characteristics of the number of leukocytes and the percentage of their groups and characteristics of platelets.
During a clinical blood test, special attention is paid to leukocytes, since the body’s ability to resist infections and various diseases depends on them. During the study, a leukocyte formula is compiled, that is, the number of leukocytes of all groups is given as a percentage: basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils.
It is noteworthy that an increased number of leukocytes indicates the presence of a disease, but it is not possible to make a specific diagnosis based only on this indicator. The data is analyzed only in conjunction with the results of the study of red blood cells and platelets (special attention is paid to red blood cells), only in this case will it be possible to either make an accurate diagnosis or plan further examination and treatment. Moreover, often the most accurate results can be obtained only by analyzing the dynamics of blood parameters, that is, by taking a general analysis several times.
Treatment of leukocytosis
Leukocytosis is usually detected only by blood tests. A person does not feel any obvious symptoms indicating a change in the blood. Thus, he may complain of a number of ailments, which are often not associated in any way with a deviation from standard values in the concentration of white blood cells:
- general malaise and fatigue;
- loss of appetite, dizziness (other possible causes of dizziness in women are described here), excessive sweating;
- joint and muscle pain;
- sleep disorder (treated by a somnologist), weakened vision (therapy carried out by an ophthalmologist).
In order to reduce the value of an indicator, the increase of which is associated with physiological reasons, it is recommended:
- avoid hypothermia and overheating;
- Healthy food;
- observe a rest regime;
- be less nervous.
Those. therapy is associated with the elimination of factors causing an increase in the indicator.
If a diagnosis of “leukocytosis” is established, self-medication should not be done under any circumstances. The doctor himself, based on repeated tests and additional examinations, will determine the etymology of the growth of leukocyte cells and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
This article has been verified by a current qualified physician, Victoria Druzhikina, and can be considered a reliable source of information for site users.
Bibliography
1.https://medline.ru/public/art/tom18/art6.html 2. Uncle G.I. et al. Universal reference book for a practicing physician (Section “General blood test”) // Voronezh: Scientific book. - 2021. - 512 p. 3. Kishkun A. A. Clinical laboratory diagnostics. Textbook (Chapter 2. Hematological studies) // M.: GEOTAR-Media. — 2015. — 976 p.
4. Standards for indicators of the composition of blood cells and other indicators are reflected in the ORDER of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated 09/14/2001 364 (as amended on 06/06/2008), Appendix 3 “NORMS FOR THE COMPOSITION AND BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD”
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Interpretation of test results (increased leukocytes)
When the amount of white blood cells in the blood is higher than normal, this condition is called leukocytosis. Before making a diagnosis, it is important to initially exclude physiological leukocytosis, which, as a result of a slight increase in indicators, indicates that in the near future the person has experienced physical activity, stress, or simply ate (while eating, the body prepares in advance to protect itself from possible poisoning, increasing the number of leukocytes in the blood ). In this case, white blood cells increase evenly and for a short period of time.
The situation is different if the number from a particular group is increased. For example, if the count is in the thousands of neutrophils, this means that there is an inflammatory process in the body, or it indicates the presence of infection or tissue damage. When the result is already millions higher than normal, this can signal such dangerous diseases as oncology, tuberculosis, severe intoxication or serious injury.
By the number of eosinophils, one can determine the presence of an allergic reaction, which is manifested by a significant increase in the number of these cells in relation to other groups of leukocytes. The same reaction manifests itself into intolerance to certain medications.
An increase in basophils is often observed in pregnant women; this is the norm, but in the absence of pregnancy, this indicator signals possible problems with the intestines, kidneys, and spleen.
Lymphocytes are elevated if the body is suffering from a serious viral infection (for example, tuberculosis), and monocytic leukocytosis indicates that either a person who has had an infectious disease is now in the process of recovery, or it signals the presence of certain types of tumors.
Glucose standards
| Category | Meaning | Unit measurements |
| Peripheral blood in adults | 3,3-5,5 | mmol/l |
| Venous blood in adults | 3,7-6,1 | mmol/l |
| Children under one year old | 2,8-4,4 | mmol/l |
| Children under one year of age (venous blood) | 3,3-5,0 | mmol/l |
| Children from 5 years old | 3,3-5,5 | mmol/l |
Blood sugar levels in adults should be in the range of 3.3 – 5.5 mmol/l. An increase in this value to 5.9 – 6.9 indicates a prediabetic state. If the glucose level is above critical levels, diabetes mellitus is diagnosed. With such values, consultation with an endocrinologist and specific tests are required.
Leukocytes in the blood are low
If leukocytes are elevated, it means there is an inflammatory process in the body, or a fight against infection, but the body fights on its own and often copes with the task, but what do low leukocytes signal? About a decrease in a person’s immunity, about a deterioration in the body’s ability to resist various diseases.
A reduced level of white blood cells indicates problems in the hematopoietic system, namely in the bone marrow, which produces blood cells. Chemotherapy for cancer, as well as taking interferon-based drugs, can cause a decrease in the number of indicators. but lower results do not always indicate the presence of a serious disease. Sometimes the reason can be simple - poor nutrition and a significant lack of certain vitamins: B vitamins, copper, iron and folic acid.
Severely low white blood cells can be a sign of a disease such as AIDS. This deviation should serve as a reason for conducting a more in-depth analysis of the health status.
Other reasons
- Massive tissue breakdown
: myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, pancreatic necrosis, extensive burns. - Toxic effects on the bone marrow
: poisoning with lead, organic hydrocarbon compounds, ionizing radiation. - Endocrine disorders
: chronic adrenal insufficiency, autoimmune polyglandular syndromes, congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex. - Primary immunodeficiencies
: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Jobe syndrome (hyper-IgE syndrome). - Malignant neoplasms
: small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colon adenocarcinoma. - Lung diseases
: pulmonary eosinophilia (eosinophilic pneumonia), Langerhans cell histiocytosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. - Dermatological diseases
: eczema, Dühring's dermatitis herpetiformis, scabies. - Condition after removal of the spleen (splenectomy)
: as a component of post-splenectomy syndrome.
Examination at MedArt
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