What are the causes of leukopenia?

Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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When the white blood cell count in peripheral blood is below 4.0 times 10 to the ninth power per liter, it is termed leukopenia. According to the cause, it can be divided into the following three aspects: First, disturbance in the production of white blood cells, including reduced proliferation of stem cells or regeneration disorders. Second, excessive destruction of white blood cells, such as from infections or immunological factors, leading to increased destruction of white blood cells. Third, abnormal distribution of white blood cells, due to various reasons, causes an increase in white blood cells in the marginal pool and a decrease in the circulating pool, which can also lead to leukopenia.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
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Is leukopenia severe?

The normal value of white blood cells in the human body is 4 to 10×10^9/L. White blood cells mainly consist of neutrophils and lymphocytes, along with some other types of eosinophilic and basophilic granulocytes. If the total white blood cell count decreases, generally falling below 4 to 10×10^9/L, it is referred to as leukopenia. Among these, neutrophils are the most related to the body's immune response. If neutrophils decrease to less than 1.5×10^9/L, it is defined as neutropenia, which is very serious. If neutropenia occurs, the resistance to infections is greatly lowered, making the body highly susceptible to various infections. Active treatment to increase white blood cells is necessary; otherwise, any infection may lead to severe conditions like septicemia and septic shock, which can even be life-threatening.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Leukopenia is a condition.

Leukopenia is defined as a condition in which the white blood cell count in peripheral blood persistently remains below 4 times 10 to the ninth power per liter. Since the components of white blood cells are mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes, particularly dominated by neutrophils, leukopenia is mostly caused by a decrease in neutrophils. The causes of leukopenia can be categorized into primary and secondary types. Primary leukopenia refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary leukopenia could be due to acute infections, physical or chemical factors, or certain diseases such as hematologic disorders, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, or genetic disorders. In addition, there are also some acquired or idiopathic cases of granulocytopenia that fall under the category of leukopenia. Typical symptoms of leukopenia include dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, reduced appetite, and mental sluggishness.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of leukopenia?

Leukopenia is a common hematological disorder that can occur at any age. It is defined as leukopenia when the total number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood consistently falls below four times ten to the ninth power per liter. The onset of this disease is usually gradual with mild symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, low fever, prone to pharyngitis or mucosal ulcerations, and also includes loss of appetite, limb fatigue, insomnia with frequent dreams, and a cold stomach and backache. It makes one more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections such as colds. If leukopenia is caused by an infection, common symptoms include high fever, chills, and body aches. If the total number of white blood cells is significantly reduced, with an absolute neutrophil count below 0.5 times ten to the ninth power per liter, it is referred to as neutropenia. In such cases, the patient may experience chills, high fever, sore throat, headache, joint pain, and in severe cases, even coma and death.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are what diseases

Diseases caused by decreased white blood cells and platelets are often related to our hematological system, since both white blood cells and platelets are produced by our hematopoietic factors. When there is a decrease in both white blood cells and platelets, we generally consider that there might be an issue with our hematopoietic system. The most common conditions could be diseases related to the hematological system, such as leukemia, or aplastic anemia. These conditions can cause a decrease in the mentioned indices. Another disease is cirrhosis, especially in patients in the compensatory stage, which can lead to hyperfunctioning of the spleen. The spleen is also an immune organ, as well as a part of our hematopoietic system, so when the spleen is hyperactive, it can also result in decreased white blood cells and platelets.

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Written by Yang Li
Endocrinology
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Can leukopenia cause fever?

Leukopenia can lead to fever. White blood cells are the guardians of the human body, protecting it against external invasions such as infections. When white blood cells are decreased, the patient's resistance to infections can be significantly reduced, making them particularly susceptible to infections. This can lead to fever, as often seen in hematological patients with leukopenia who frequently experience fevers due to their chronic infection states. Therefore, when leukopenia is accompanied by fever, it is advisable to seek hospital treatment as soon as possible, as proactive infection management is crucial.