When are white blood cells low?

"Leukocytes are low" - this phrase certainly causes alarm. Any deviation from the norm in the blood composition analysis can signal a disease, chronic or acute. Depending on the level of deviation from normal limits, the results of laboratory tests are interpreted from the quantitative indicators of titers.

Leukocytes are one of the three main types of cellular elements of the blood. Erythrocytes are usually called red cells, thrombocytes are called platelets, and leukocytes are not quite correctly called white blood cells, although they have no color at all. They can be different in size and shape, this is due to the stages of their functioning. In addition, these cells move quite freely through the bloodstream, easily overcoming the capillary wall and penetrating into tissues. In this way, they perform their main task - protection from external harmful 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, phagocytes, absorbing antigens, increase to the point of self-destruction. Toxins that were inside, enter the blood and tissues, the inflammatory process begins. New defenders rush to the site of inflammation, which also die, absorbing harmful agents, the process is repeated. In this struggle they die quite quickly and in large quantities; the mass of dead white blood cells is what constitutes purulent accumulations.

If the test results say “leukocytes are low”, what is their norm?

The norm is calculated using a special formula and, depending on 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-granular (agranulocytes) types. Granulocytes in turn are divided into eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils. Neutrophils also have their own subdivision, depending on the shape of the nucleus. These subtypes are named according to the type of nucleus - segmented and banded. The second type - non-granular - branches out into such mini-groups: monocytes, that is, large, and lymphocytes, that is, small. Each subtype has a clear task, any change in their number or other parameters provides biochemical information.

It is easy to guess that the onset of the inflammatory process is accompanied by elevated indicators, when their resources are not yet depleted. Accordingly, the words of the doctor, saying the phrase "leukocytes are lowered", indicate the depletion of the body's protective resource, and this in turn is a direct indication of a chronic, long-term pathological process. The condition when 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 necessary, normal amount of these cells.

When leukocytes are low, this may indicate the following pathologies and disorders in the body:

• An oncological process accompanied by metastases in the bone marrow;
• The first stage of leukemia is a neoplastic tumor disease of the blood;
• Anemia with vitamin B12 deficiency;
• SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Hypersplenism is an enlargement of the spleen;
• Hypoplastic or aplastic pathology of the bone marrow;
• Disease of viral etiology;
• Drug intoxication (sulfonamides, antibiotics);
• Radiation sickness.

What reasons can lead to such a laboratory conclusion as “low leukocytes”?

• Chronic general exhaustion of the body;
• Radiation exposure;
• Long-term, sometimes uncontrolled, use of medications;
• The final therapeutic stage in the treatment of influenza, typhoid, measles, malaria, rubella;
• Oncoprocess;
• Anaphylaxis.

Signs, symptoms of leukopenia:

• Changes in pulse rate, its acceleration;
• Chronic weakness, malaise;
• Elevated temperature of unknown etiology;
• Chronic headaches;
• Fever, chills;
• Enlarged lymph nodes, tonsils.

As a rule, if the test results say "leukocytes are low", they are interpreted in conjunction with information from other examinations. A bone marrow biopsy may also be prescribed depending on the severity of leukopenia - cyclic, moderate, severe or extremely severe.

Leukocytes are low, of course, this is alarming information, but it is part of a complex diagnostic procedure, and only a doctor should draw conclusions and make an accurate diagnosis.