What does a decrease in white blood cells mean?

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on September 03, 2024
00:00
00:00

Leukopenia indicates a decrease in the body's resistance. The most common causes of leukopenia are: First, viral infections, which often coincide with an increase in lymphocytes and a decrease in neutrophils. The second cause is severe bacterial infections. During severe bacterial infections, there is a significant reduction in white blood cells, which may even lead to a decrease in platelets. The third cause is primarily diseases of the hematologic system, where leukopenia is often accompanied by a reduction in other red blood cells and platelets. Other possible causes include drug-induced leukopenia, as medications can also lead to a decrease in white blood cells. Therefore, the primary approach to leukopenia is to clearly identify the cause, and then determine the next steps for treatment based on that cause.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 10sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
54sec home-news-image

What causes leukopenia?

When the white blood cell count in the surrounding blood continuously remains below 4.0*10^9/L, we call this condition leukopenia. Typical symptoms of leukopenia include dizziness, fatigue, limb soreness, reduced appetite, and listlessness, although some patients may not exhibit any obvious clinical symptoms. The causes of leukopenia are very complex and can be classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary leukopenia refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary leukopenia refers to cases potentially caused by acute infections or physical and chemical factors, or diseases of the hematopoietic system, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, or genetic diseases, all of which may lead to a reduction in white blood cells.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
1min 7sec home-news-image

How to treat leukopenia?

The treatment plan for leukopenia primarily depends on the cause of the decreased white blood cells. If the cause is related to blood cancer, further examinations like bone marrow biopsy are needed, followed by treatment of the primary disease. The second most common scenario is liver cirrhosis, which can lead to a decrease in all three blood cell lines, causing reduction in white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. In such cases, treatment options may include splenectomy or the use of oral medications that increase white blood cell count. However, these treatments only address the symptoms and not the root cause, which is liver cirrhosis, thus the primary disease still requires treatment. The third scenario involves severe bacterial and viral infections, where a decrease in white blood cells indicates a serious condition, necessitating further antiviral or anti-infection treatments. (Please follow the guidance of a professional physician for medication use, and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 15sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
57sec home-news-image

What does a decrease in white blood cells mean?

Leukopenia indicates a decrease in the body's resistance. The most common causes of leukopenia are: First, viral infections, which often coincide with an increase in lymphocytes and a decrease in neutrophils. The second cause is severe bacterial infections. During severe bacterial infections, there is a significant reduction in white blood cells, which may even lead to a decrease in platelets. The third cause is primarily diseases of the hematologic system, where leukopenia is often accompanied by a reduction in other red blood cells and platelets. Other possible causes include drug-induced leukopenia, as medications can also lead to a decrease in white blood cells. Therefore, the primary approach to leukopenia is to clearly identify the cause, and then determine the next steps for treatment based on that cause.