What Is Considered High Or Elevated White Blood Cell Count
Dr. Hina Naushad, a hematopathologist from Creighton Medical Center, says that an elevated WBC count is when the total number of leukocytes is more than 11.0 x 109 per L.
To help doctors diagnose correctly medical conditions that cause WBC levels to jump, they may also check for levels of the 5 major types of white blood cells. Abnormal levels of these white blood cells are results that are out of the following range:3
- Neutrophils: 2.5 to 7.5 x 109 per L
- Lymphocytes: 1.5 to 3.5 x 109 per L
- Monocytes: 0.2 to 0.8 x 109 per L
- Eosinophils: 0.04 to 0.4 x 109 per L
- Basophils: 0.01 to 0.1 x 109 per L
Testing for these types of white blood cells is sometimes called a differential white blood test.
What Medications Are Used For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Healthcare providers may also prescribe medication or infusion therapy for CLL, such as:
- BCL2 inhibitor therapy: This medicine blocks BCL2, a protein found on leukemia cells. This treatment can destroy leukemia cells or make them more sensitive to other cancer drugs.
- Monoclonal antibody therapy: Healthcare providers create monoclonal antibodies in a lab. These antibodies attach to cancer cells. The antibodies block cancer cells growth or destroy the cells. Examples of monoclonal antibody therapy medications include rituximab , ofatumumab or obinutuzumab .
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: This treatment blocks the enzymes that cause stem cells to develop into excess white blood cells. Examples of TKIs include ibrutinib , acalabrutinib , idelalisib and duvelisib .
How Is Lymphocytosis Diagnosed
Providers rely on your medical history, current symptoms, medication list, and a physical exam to help determine whats causing lymphocytosis. They may ask questions about your habits and lifestyle to see if youre at high-risk for certain infections, such as sexually transmitted infections . They may perform a blood test to check your lymphocyte count.
If your levels are high, your provider may retest later to see if the spike is temporary. If your levels remain high and your provider is unsure why, they may order additional tests. You may be referred to a blood specialist called a hematologist for a diagnosis.
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Why Do I Need A White Blood Count
You may need this test if you have signs of an infection, inflammation, or autoimmune disease. Symptoms of infection include:
Symptoms of inflammation and autoimmune diseases will be different, depending on the area of inflammation and type of disease.
You may also need this test if you have a disease that weakens your immune system or are taking medicine that lowers your immune response. If the test shows your white blood count is getting too low, your provider may be able to adjust your treatment.
Your newborn or older child may also be tested as part of a routine screening, or if they have symptoms of a white blood cell disorder.
Can I Prevent Leukocytosis
Remember that leukocytosis is a normal immune response, so it doesnt always need to be prevented. For example, your white blood cells increase when your body needs to fight off infection or inflammation. But, there are things you can do to keep your white blood cell count in a healthy range:
- Wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of infection.
- Avoid potential allergens.
- Visit your dentist every six months.
- Take all medications as directed by your healthcare provider.
- Find ways to reduce your stress levels, like mindfulness or meditation.
- Seek treatment for anxiety or depression as needed.
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Causes Of A High White Cell Count
Infections cause a high white blood cell count because these cells are the bodys way of eliminating infectious organismsviruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Many medical conditions are also associated with a high white blood cell count, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cancer, and bone marrow disorders.
When white blood cells are active, they can have several effects. These include:
- Releasing enzymes that raise the temperature, which causes warmth or fever and sweats
- Causing blood vessels to widen and become leaky, which causes redness and swelling
- Accumulating in certain areas of the body, such as forming an abscess
What Is It Used For
A white blood count is most often used to help diagnose disorders related to having a high white blood cell count or low white blood cell count.
Disorders related to having a high white blood count include:
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, conditions that cause the immune system to attack healthy tissues
- Bacterial or viral infections
Disorders related to having a low white blood count include:
- Diseases of the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS
- Lymphoma, a cancer of the bone marrow
- Diseases of the liver or spleen
A white blood count can show if the number of your white blood cells is too high or too low, but it can’t confirm a diagnosis. So it is usually done along with other tests, such as a complete blood count, blood differential, blood smear, and/or bone marrow test.
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Lowering High White Blood Cell Counts
Some patients may have very high white blood cell counts at the time of diagnosis. These elevated WBC counts can sometimes impair blood flow to the brain, lungs, eyes and other sites, and also cause damage in small blood vessels.
Hydroxyurea is sometimes given to lower very high WBC counts rapidly until a CML diagnosis is confirmed through blood and bone marrow tests. Hydroxyurea is taken as a capsule by mouth. Lowering those very high WBC counts can help reduce the size of the spleen. Once a diagnosis of CML is confirmed, doctors will usually start tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and discontinue hydroxyurea.
Leukapheresis is a procedure that uses a machine similar to a dialysis machine to remove white blood cells from the circulating blood. Leukapheresis is used to lower WBC counts if chronic phase CML is diagnosed during the first months of pregnancy, when other treatments may be harmful to fetal development. For more information about pregnancy and CML, see Pregnancy.
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Why Are Low Levels Of White Blood Cells Bad
Your doctor will interpret your WBC test results, taking into account your medical history and other tests results. A result that is slightly high may not be of medical significance, as this test often varies from day to day and from person to person.
Having too low of a white blood cell count can be a sign of an immune system that is not capable of handling infections properly.
Also, low white blood cells tend to indicate other issues in the body. For example, in some autoimmune conditions, white blood cells can be lower. If you are worried about a low WBC count, work with your doctor to determine and address the underlying causes and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
A low white blood cell count can be caused by the following :
The causes listed here are commonly associated with this symptom, but low WBCs are not enough to identify the underlying condition responsible. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
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What Is A Normal White Blood Cell Count
It is important to note that the ânormalâ range for white blood cell count varies. The WBC count test is not a diagnostic tool and is only used to gauge abnormal levels of white blood cells. It is conducted in conjunction with a complete blood cell test, known as CBC. A high count indicates the presence of inflammation in the body.Because white blood cells are calculated by the number of cells per volume of blood, test results can vary between labs. Different labs use different degrees of measurements for the white blood cell count. The fact that one personâs normal count can be different than another personâs normal count is also taken into consideration. Your white blood cell count can be affected by race and any existing health condition.
However, the general consensus is that a normal range is between 4,500 to 10,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter. Any WBC count higher than 11,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter is considered high. This can be compared to prior blood test results of the patient.
High White Blood Cell Count During Pregnancy
White blood cell levels increase significantly during healthy pregnancy because of the physical stress the body endures during this time. The levels start to rise within the first trimester and continue to rise into the third trimester.
During labor and in the hours following delivery, white blood cell levels may surge again, to between white blood cells in every microliter of blood. This is in response to the physical stresses and trauma of labor.
Within 6â8 weeks of delivery, white blood cells return to their normal levels.
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High White Blood Cell Count Symptoms
Raised white blood cell count is itself asymptomatic and therefore any associated features, if present, will typically be associated with the underlying cause. For example, a leukocytosis caused by leukemia may be accompanied by fatigue, general malaise and easy bruising.There are no symptoms that can reliably indicate the presence of a raised white cell count. Doctors will usually consider carrying out an investigation to include the blood count if the symptoms described by a patient suggest that a blood count could be helpful to make a diagnosis.
High White Blood Cell Count
A high white blood cell count can develop due to many conditions. White blood cells are an important part of the bodys immune system. These cells help fight infection, aid in healing from trauma, and assist in recovery from disease.
There are several types of white blood cells that act in different ways and may be increased in number in different conditions.
This article will discuss symptoms of the conditions associated with a high white blood cell count, including common causes, tests, and treatments. Please see your healthcare provider for specifics regarding your condition.
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How Are White Blood Cell Disorders Diagnosed
Depending on the type of white blood cell disorder a child has, the doctor may order:
- blood work to evaluate white blood cells’ number and morphology
- bone marrow testing
Doctors may order additional specific tests to confirm or rule out certain disorders, such as:
- specific tests for leukocyte function
- stool sample for Schwachman-Diamond syndrome
After all tests are completed, hematologists will be able to outline the best treatment options.
High White Blood Cell Count: Causes Symptoms And More
In this post, well talk about high white blood cell count.
Leukocytes, also known as white blood cells, are cells of the immune system that are formed in the bone marrow and are present in the blood, lymph, lymphoid organs and certain tissues.
Since white blood cells increase in case of infection, inflammation or bone marrow dysfunction, measuring them is very useful.
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When The White Blood Cell Count Is High
Eosinophilia is a rare increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, usually as a result of signals produced by other cells calling for more eosinophil production. Neutrophilia, meanwhile, is an increase in the number of neutrophils in the blood. Most commonly, neutrophilia is acquired and occurs in response to infections or drugs. Other rare causes exist.
Problems Affecting White Blood Cells
Your white blood cell count can be low for a number of reasons. This includes when something is destroying the cells more quickly than the body can replenish them. Or when the bone marrow stops making enough white blood cells to keep you healthy. When your white blood cell count is low, you are at great risk for any illness or infection, which can spiral into a serious health threat.
Your healthcare provider can do a blood test to see whether your white blood cell count is normal. If your count is too low or too high, you may have a white blood cell disorder.
A number of diseases and conditions may affect white blood cell levels:
Conditions such as extreme physical stress caused by an injury or emotional stress can also trigger high white blood cell levels. So can inflammation, labor or the end of pregnancy, smoking, or even extreme exercise.
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Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About A White Blood Count
White blood count results are often compared with results of other blood tests, including a blood differential. A blood differential test shows the amount of each type of white blood cell, such as neutrophils or lymphocytes. Neutrophils mostly target bacterial infections. Lymphocytes mostly target viral infections.
- A higher than normal amount of neutrophils is known as neutrophilia.
- A lower than normal amount is known as neutropenia.
- A higher than normal amount of lymphocytes is known as lymphocytosis.
- A lower normal amount is known as lymphopenia.
Clinical And Laboratory Assessments
Demographic information and laboratory data were collected and documented on a form by a clinician who was blinded to prevent bias.
Age, sex, white blood cell count, neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio , neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, eosinophil count, platelet count , platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio , red blood cell distribution width , mean platelet volume , red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio , high sensitive C reactive protein , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , the total serum immunoglobulin E levels, and Scoring Atopic Dermatitis Index of the patients were recorded on admission. Disease severity was classified into 3 categories , according to the assessment at the patients last visit.
White blood cells are the immune cells in your body. They circulate in your bloodstream and work as guardians to help protect you from viruses, bacteria, and other infectious organisms.
Maintaining a normal level of healthy white blood cells can help reduce the risk of infection and is a key component of overall health. If you have a low WBC count, called leukopenia, you may be at an increased risk of developing infections.
Importantly, you donât want extremely high levels of white blood cells. Increased WBC levelsknown as leukocytosisare a sign the body is responding to a stressor. Stressors that increase WBC levels can be physical, such as an infection, cancer, or an autoimmune disorder, or emotional.
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What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose Lymphocytosis
Your provider may order a blood test called a complete blood count with differential. This test shows if you have a higher-than-normal amount of lymphocytes. They may order a flow cytometry test to see if the lymphocytes are clonal . Testing may also include a bone marrow biopsy to help determine the root cause of lymphocytosis.
When To Seek Immediate Medical Advice
Polycythaemia can cause blood clots. These put you at risk of life-threatening problems such as:
- pulmonary embolisms a blockage in the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs
- deep vein thrombosis a blockage that forms in the blood vessels in your leg before moving elsewhere in your body
Seek medical help immediately if you or someone you’re with shows signs of DVT or a pulmonary embolism. These include:
- pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one of your legs
- a heavy ache in the affected area
- warm skin in the area of the clot
- feeling lightheaded or dizzy
Polycythaemia also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Seek emergency medical help if you think that you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack or stroke.
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What Happens If Your White Blood Cell Count Is Too High
If your white blood cell count is high, theres a chance you may already be feeling some of the potential symptoms. Signs of an infection or inflammation are likely the result of an elevated white blood cell count. Individuals with an immune disorder or certain types of cancer are also likely to experience abnormal white blood cell counts, both low and high. While feeling ill can be a sign of a high blood cell count, its also possible you will have no noticeable symptoms at all. An elevated WBC count in itself is not usually dangerous, but the causes of it can be if left untreated. On average, your body is naturally designed to produce white blood cells when needed and reduce them when you have regained normal health.