White blood cells - a concept that combines more than one typeblood cells, and as many as five, and each of them has its own purpose. Reducing the number of leukocytes causes leukopenia, but it can occur in various ways, depending on what your blood cells become smaller.
Content
Leukopenia is expressed in deficiency of granulocytes or lymphocytes.Reducing the number of granulocytes can be observed inany age and lead to infection and inflammation in the throat, digestive tract, to the defeat of the mucous membranes and skin.
Reduction in the number of lymphocytes, which are formed mainly in lymph nodes, is rare.
When the content of leukocytes in the blood drops toa dangerous level, the body becomes defenseless against infections. The prognosis depends on the cause of the decrease in the number of white blood cells, and the possibility of its removal.
These reasons include (leukopenia often develops as a complication of some diseases):
- Infection;
- Sepsis;
- Viral and fungal infections;
- Protozoal infections (falciparum malaria).
Gynecological complications
- Amniotic embolism;
- Placental abruption;
- Unreleased dead fetus;
- Sepsis, which developed as a result of abortion;
- Eclampsia.
Oncological diseases
- Acute leukemia;
- Cancer being circulated.
Diseases that cause necrosis (necrosis) of tissue
- Extensive burns and injuries;
- Destruction (violation of the structure) tissue of the brain;
- Transplant rejection;
- Necrosis of the liver.
Other reasons
- The attack of angina pectoris;
- Shock;
- Snakebite;
- Cirrhosis of the liver;
- Fat embolism;
- The transfusion of incompatible blood;
- Heart failure;
- The surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass;
- Hemorrhagic cyst;
- Dangerous blood clot in the vein.
Blood contains five types of white blood cells, whose purpose - to protect the body from bacteria. All types of white blood cells are divided into two categories: granulocytes and agranulocytes.
Granulocytes
For cytoplasm (cellular material) of the white blood cells characterized by grain. There are three types of granulocytes: basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils.
The low concentration of granulocytes can be caused by the following reasons:
- radiation therapy, or anticancer drugs;
- increased susceptibility to certain antibiotics and cordial agents;
- a number of diseases (such as anemia, bone marrow cancer, certain inherited diseases, infectious mononucleosis, viral and bacterial infections);
- Taking of blood cells of the spleen.
agranulocytes
In the cytoplasm of leukocytes is not grainy. Two types agranulocytes: lymphocytes and monocytes.
The reasons for low levels of lymphocytes:
- genetic abnormalities;
- radiation therapy or anticancer drugs;
- dysfunction of the lymphatic bowel vessels;
- steroid hormone excess resulting from the use of steroids or adrenocorticotropic hormone, stress, or congestive heart failure;
- serious illness (eg, diseaseHodgkin's, leukemia, aplastic anemia, sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, the lack of protein in the diet, kidney failure, cancer and tuberculosis).
Low content of lymphocytes characterized by swollen glands, enlarged spleen, enlarged tonsils, as well as symptoms of diseases have joined.
Treatment is aimed at removing or correctingthe root causes that led to a decrease in the content of white blood cells, so the doctor has to establish and, if possible, eliminate the cause of the violation, as well as slow down the spread of infection. Many patients cancel medications and radiation therapy and start treatment with antibiotics before the results of many tests. Can be administered antifungal drugs. Recently, drugs used to stimulate bone marrow production of neutrophils. Usually within 1-3 weeks the bone marrow spontaneously resumes production of leucocytes.
