Lymphogranulomatosis, neutropenia, leukopenia, monocytosis - all of these fairly common diseases are associated with only one thing - pathological changes at the level of white blood cells. In this article, we will consider in detail only one option from this list.
Leukopenia is a pathological condition that is characterized by a violation at the level of hematopoiesis of white blood cells. Unfortunately, recently the prevalence of this ailment has been growing. What is the reason for this?
What is leukopenia in adults?
This is a special pathological condition, which implies a low content of white blood cells in the blood when their number falls below the mark of 3.7X10 9 / L. This situation indicates a decrease in leukocyte production directly in the bone marrow itself. This may be the result of various kinds of disorders and diseases.
A low white blood cell count is very often observed without any deterioration in the patient's condition. On the other hand, a change in immunity in this disease often entails the emergence of various infectious ailments. Fatigue, chills with a simultaneous increase in temperature, dizziness - all these symptoms make it possible to suspect a diagnosis such as leukopenia. The causes of such clinical signs for a long time may remain unknown. The final diagnosis can only be confirmed by a blood test.
What should you know about white blood cells?
White blood cells continuously form in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. They constantly circulate in the circulatory system. Their total number can be calculated using a special analysis.
Normally, their number varies from 4.0 to 8.0 × 10 9 per liter of blood. The increased content is called leukocytosis. Most often, in this way, the body reacts to an existing inflammatory process. The thing is that it is leukocytes that kill all foreign cells.
Reducing the number of white blood cells is called leukopenia.
Depending on the presence of granularity inside the cells themselves, doctors call two types of white blood cells:
- Granulocytes: eosinophils (up to 5%), basophils (up to 1%), neutrophils (40-70%).
- Agranulocytes: lymphocytes (20-45%), monocytes (3-8%).
A simple recount indicates that granulocytes account for more than half of the total composition, and 90% of them are neutrophils.
Otherwise, they are called phagocytes. Specialists nicknamed them so because they differ in their ability to destroy microorganisms.
Thus, one should distinguish between high levels of white blood cells and low. It is the latter that is called leukopenia.
Causes
The treatment of this disease is impossible until the doctor knows exactly the main reason that caused leukopenia. Otherwise, the wrong therapy will be prescribed, and the disease will continue to progress.
Factors provoking the development of this disease, experts call a great many. However, most often this is a violation of the functioning of the bone marrow, in which there is inhibition of neutrophil synthesis due to:
- repeated exposure to ionizing radiation (frequent and prolonged x-ray studies, radiation sickness);
- infectious diseases (HIV, septic diseases, herpes infection);
- long-term use of certain groups of drugs (antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides);
- poisoning with toxins and household poisons;
- deficiency of B vitamins and some trace elements;
- dysplastic and tumor lesions directly of the bone marrow itself, which are also the cause of the disease leukopenia (leukemia, metastatic lesions, etc.).
According to experts, the rapid destruction of the so-called granulocytes is observed due to:
- Autoimmune destructive processes in the body.
- Chemotherapy applications.
- Delays of leukocytes in the device against the background of hemodialysis.
Clinical manifestations
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, obvious signs of leukopenia are almost always absent. The patient may experience headaches, weakness, dizziness. As a rule, no one pays attention to these signals, however, the clinical picture at this time continues to change rapidly. Against the background of a weakened body, its infection often occurs, which is accompanied by:
- migraines
- fever;
- chills;
- rapid pulse.
Quite often, lesions of the gastrointestinal mucosa appear in the form of numerous ulcers and erosions, blood infections, and inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
Attention should be paid to the characteristics of the course of the disease. All infectious processes in the body proceed several times harder. For example, slight irritation on the skin can lead to phlegmon. Very often after chemotherapy, damage to the spleen, liver and intestinal cells is observed. Any infection in this case becomes life threatening to the patient. Thanks to a blood test, as a rule, not only leukopenia is detected. Thrombocytopenia, for example, almost always inevitably develops against a background of inhibition of platelet production.
What is the danger of this disease?
Persistent leukopenia, according to doctors, leads to a decrease in immunity and a simultaneous increase in sensitivity to many infections and oncological ailments, which often leads to death. The following are considered extreme manifestations of the disease: agranulocytosis, neutropenia and aleukia. In this case, the body almost completely ceases to produce certain types of white blood cells.
Classification
Quite often, a decrease in the level of white blood cells is temporary. As you know, the causes of leukopenia in adults are often hidden in taking certain medications (Biseptol, Analgin). After the action of the damaging factor, all symptoms disappear. Here we are talking primarily about the so-called transient leukopenia. It is detected during the next blood test and does not have any serious health consequences.
Specialists subdivide a longer reaction into the following types:
- acute (up to three months);
- chronic (more than three months).
Such conditions often cause suspicion of agranulocytosis and always require a more detailed examination.
Also, leukopenia disease is divided into:
- primary form (occurs due to impaired neutrophil synthesis);
- secondary form (factors appear that inhibit the usual hematopoiesis).
Based on the degree of decrease in the number of leukocytes, three options can be indicated in the diagnosis:
- mild degree - 1.5X10 9 / l (complete absence of complications);
- average - from 0.5 to 1.0X10 9 / l (there is a risk of infectious complications);
- severe - up to 0.5X10 9 / l (agranulocytosis with severe manifestations).
According to the latest classification, leukopenia is most often divided. The degree of development of this pathological condition depends solely on the likelihood of infection.
Diagnostics
To confirm this disease, the doctor prescribes a general blood test to the patient. By its results, one can judge the presence of an ailment. Then, as a rule, a consultation is prescribed with a therapist and even a hematologist. On it, the doctor tells what the disease is leukopenia, the causes of this pathological condition. It is important to note that if a specialist does not know which factors provoked the development of the disease, difficulties may arise with the appointment of therapy and its subsequent effectiveness.
Treatment principles
First of all, the patient is placed in a separate room. Doctors and other healthcare providers treat their hands with an antiseptic, use gauze bandages and dress in sterile gowns. In the ward itself, cleaning is carried out using disinfectants, bactericidal lamps are used.
How to treat leukopenia? In the case of a moderate variant of the disease, the following drugs are prescribed: Leucogen, Batilol, Pentoxyl. In case of bacterial complications, when injuries appear on the skin, broad spectrum antibiotics are recommended from the first days (Zeporin, Ampicillin, Gentamicin).
Leukopenia after a course of chemotherapy is treated with drugs obtained through genetic engineering (preparations Lenograstim, Sargramostin, Filgrastim).
It is important to note that it will take a lot of time to finally overcome such an ailment as leukopenia. The causes of the disease, as noted above, often lie in the deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals. That is why during the treatment process it is necessary to pay special attention to the appropriate diet.
Products rich in folic and ascorbic acid have a beneficial effect on the maturation of new cells and the synthesis of hemoglobin. The daily diet must necessarily consist of a variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs and berries. It is recommended to eat porridge from rice, buckwheat and other cereals.
As you can see, the diet is not very strict, but some products still have to be abandoned. This group includes fatty meat, sweet soda, fast food.
In the case of an infectious infection, therapy is prescribed, consisting mainly of drugs that do not affect the bone marrow itself. Mandatory use of vitamins, immunomodulators, transfusion of platelet and leukocyte mass. In especially severe cases, doctors resort to removing the spleen. Surgical intervention is prescribed if its role in the destruction of white blood cells has been proven.
Possible consequences
Modern medicine distinguishes various types of leukopenia, the classification of which primarily depends on factors contributing to a sharp decrease in the number of white blood cells. However, regardless of the type of disease, all necessary measures should be taken immediately to combat it. If treatment is not prescribed in a timely manner, the likelihood of developing complications, moreover, life-threatening, is high.
Many, seeing a blood test, do not know what leukopenia actually threatens. Most believe that negative consequences can only be caused by diseases that provoked a sharp decrease in white blood cells. In fact, such an opinion is wrong. Leukopenia weakens the protective functions of the body. The lack of excellent immunity often leads to the fact that the presence of the most banal bacterial infection in the body can become an emergency. Moreover, with leukopenia, the risk of acquiring a tumor disease almost doubles. Also, agranulocytosis and aleukia (bone marrow damage) can be attributed to the possible consequences of this pathological condition.
Prevention and prognosis
Very often after cancer , leukopenia develops. After chemotherapy, treatment and prevention of this disease primarily imply the exact selection of the dosage of drugs. It is important to note that this depends not only on the experience of doctors, but also on the capabilities of specialized devices. That is why the maximum targeted effect is used for radiation therapy. Mortality in case of leukopenia in cancer patients does not exceed 30% of all cases.
Particular attention should be paid to an individual approach in the treatment of patients in clinics. When prescribing certain drugs, the doctor must take into account the intolerance of certain components, the compatibility of drugs, and concomitant ailments. Here, a special role belongs to independent treatment and following the advice of relatives and friends. Any therapy should be prescribed only after a diagnostic examination, as well as a consultation with a specialist.
In this article we talked as much as possible about what constitutes leukopenia. The causes of this disease can be very different, starting with a lack of certain vitamins and ending with serious bone marrow lesions. In any case, only competent therapy can help in the fight against this ailment. Be healthy!