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Leukopenia (from Greek λευκός (leukos) 'white' and πενία (penia) 'deficiency') is a decrease in the number of leukocytes (WBC). Found in the blood, they are the white blood cells, and are the body's primary defense against an infection. Thus the condition of leukopenia places individuals at increased risk of infection.
The word leukemia, which means 'white blood', is derived from the characteristic high white blood cell count that presents in most affected people before treatment. The high number of white blood cells is apparent when a blood sample is viewed under a microscope, with the extra white blood cells frequently being immature or dysfunctional. The ...
There are also two general causes of cytopenia: autoimmune and refractory. Autoimmune cytopenia is caused by an autoimmune disease when your body produces antibodies to destroy the healthy blood cells. Refractory cytopenia is caused by bone marrow not producing healthy blood cells, and can be a result of cancer.
An excess of white blood cells is usually due to infection or inflammation. Less commonly, a high white blood cell count could indicate certain blood cancers or bone marrow disorders. The number of leukocytes in the blood is often an indicator of disease, and thus the white blood cell count is an important subset of the complete blood count.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. [8] [9] In CLL, the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. [8] [9] In patients with CLL, B cell lymphocytes can begin to collect in their blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow.
It may reveal both an excess of white blood cells (leukocytosis) or a decrease , and a low red blood cell count and low platelets (thrombocytopenia) can also be commonly seen. [22] A blood film may show leukemic blast cells. [22] Inclusions within the cells called Auer rods, when seen, make the diagnosis highly likely. [22]
Problems with blood cell formation result in some combination of low red blood cell, platelet, and white blood cell counts. [3] Some types of MDS cause an increase in the production of immature blood cells (called blasts), in the bone marrow or blood. [3]
A white blood cell differential is a medical laboratory test that provides information about the types and amounts of white blood cells in a person's blood. The test, which is usually ordered as part of a complete blood count (CBC), measures the amounts of the five normal white blood cell types – neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils – as well as abnormal cell ...
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