Leukocytosis

Introduction White blood cells are a general term for a class of cells in the blood, including monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and white blood cells. The normal value is 4-10x10-12/ml. Above this range, it is called an increase in white blood cells. Common in acute infections, chronic infections and other bacterial or viral infectious diseases. Increased physiology: seen in neonates, pregnancy, strenuous exercise, cold stimulation, etc.; pathological increase: acute infection, severe trauma, acute bleeding, acute poisoning, leukemia, malignant tumors, etc.

Cause

When there is inflammation, the white blood cells in the blood and urine will increase. There are also some blood diseases that increase white blood cells.

In addition, doctors often analyze the white blood cell status in the blood routine to determine whether the patient has an infection. In general, infection can cause an increase in white blood cells. But some of the increase in white blood cells is not necessarily the presence of an infection.

Many physiological factors can cause an increase in the total number of white blood cells. For example: strenuous exercise; physical labor; after long-term exposure to cold air in winter; there is often a slight increase in white blood cells after a meal or shower. Physiological leukocyte elevation is also seen in emotional stress, hypoglycemia during hunger and so on. However, physiologic leukocytosis is temporary, and the factors that remove the effects are quickly restored. The mechanism of production may be caused by increased secretion of catecholamines in the body when stimulated by various physiological factors, resulting in the entry of marginal white blood cells into circulation.

Many drugs can cause an increase in the total number of white blood cells. For example: some antibiotics such as erythromycin, cefotaxime, etc.; and catecholamines such as adrenaline, norepinephrine, m-hydroxylamine, dopamine, etc.; another adrenal cortex hormone hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, adrenal gland Corticosteroids can cause an increase in the total number of white blood cells. The antipsychotic lithium carbonate can also cause an increase in the number of white blood cells.

In short, the increase of white blood cells in blood routine is not necessarily an infection, it is likely that due to the above physiological factors or drugs, white blood cells of blood diseases will also increase.

an examination

Leukocytosis is a defensive response that plays an important role in defense against infection. However, if white blood cells are abnormally proliferated for some reason, it will cause leukemia, causing fever, secondary infection, anemia, hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, metabolism and dysfunction, and even life-threatening. Acute infection, severe trauma, acute bleeding, acute poisoning, leukemia, malignant tumors, etc. can be caused. The total number of white blood cells or the absolute number of certain types of white blood cells in the peripheral blood in the blood exceeds the normal value. Therefore, clinically, patients with leukocytosis should be examined:

First, physical examination

Taking a medical history gives us a first impression and revelation, and also guides us to a concept of the nature of the disease.

Second, laboratory inspection

Laboratory examinations must be summarized and analyzed based on objective data learned from medical history and physical examination, from which several diagnostic possibilities may be proposed, and further consideration should be given to those examinations to confirm the diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis

1 Physiological increase: seen in newborns, pregnancy, strenuous exercise, cold stimulation.

2 pathological increase: acute infection, severe trauma, acute bleeding, acute poisoning, leukemia, malignant tumors, etc.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.