NORMAL WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT
1. Total WBC count (TC): 4,000 to 11,000/cu mm of blood.
2. Differential WBC
count (DC): Given in Table 16.3.
VARIATIONS IN WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT
Leukocytosis
Leukocytosis is the increase in total
WBC count. Leukocytosis occurs in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Leukopenia
Leukopenia is the decrease in total
WBC count. The term leukopenia is generally used for pathological conditions
only.
Granulocytosis
Granulocytosis is the abnormal
increase in the number of granulocytes.
Granulocytopenia
Granulocytopenia is the abnormal reduction
in the number of granulocytes.
Agranulocytosisa
Agranulocytosis is the acute
pathological condition characterized by absolute lack of granulocytes.
PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIATIONS
1. Age: WBC
count is about 20,000 per cu mm in infants and about 10,000 to 15,000 per cu mm
of
blood in children. In adults,
it ranges between 4,000 and 11,000 per cu mm of blood.
2. Sex: Slightly more in males
than in females.
3. Diurnal variation: Minimum
in early morning and maximum in the afternoon. 4. Exercise: Increases
slightly.
5. Sleep: Decreases.
6. Emotional conditions like
anxiety: Increases.
7. Pregnancy: Increases.
8. Menstruation: Increases.
9. Parturition: Increases.
PATHOLOGICAL
VARIATIONS
All types of leukocytes do not share
equally in the increase or decrease of total leukocyte count. In general, the
neutrophils and lymphocytes vary in opposite directions.
Leukocytosis
Leukocytosis is the increase in total
leukocyte (WBC) count. It occurs in conditions such as:
1. Infections
2. Allergy
3. Common cold
4. Tuberculosis
5. Glandular fever.
Leukemia
Leukemia is the condition which is
characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled increase in leukocyte count more
than 1,000,000/cu mm. It is also called blood cancer.
Leukopenia
Leukopenia is the decrease in the
total WBC count. It occurs in the following pathological conditions:
1. Anaphylactic shock
2. Cirrhosis of liver
3. Disorders of spleen
4. Pernicious anemia
5. Typhoid and paratyphoid
6. Viral infections.
Variation in
Differential Leukocyte Count
Neutrophilia
Neutrophilia or neutrophilic
leukocytosis is the increase in neutrophil count. It occurs in the
following conditions:
1. Acute infections
2. Metabolic disorders
3. Injection of foreign proteins4.
Injection of vaccines
5. Poisoning by chemicals and drugs
like lead, mercury, camphor, benzene derivatives, etc.
6. Poisoning by insect venom
7. After acute hemorrhage.
Eosinophilia
Eosinophilia is the increase in
eosinophil count and it occurs in:
1. Asthma and other allergic
conditions
2. Blood parasitism
(malaria, filariasis)
3. Intestinal parasitism
4. Scarlet fever.
Basophilia
Basophilia is the increase in basophil
count and it occurs in:
1. Smallpox
2. Chickenpox
3. Polycythemia vera.
Monocytosis
Monocytosis is the increase in
monocyte count and it occurs in:
1. Tuberculosis
2. Syphilis
3. Malaria
4. Kala-azar
5. Glandular fever.
Lymphocytosis
Lymphocytosis is the increase in
lymphocyte count and it occurs in:
1. Diphtheria
2. Infectious hepatitis
3. Mumps
4. Malnutrition
5. Rickets
6. Syphilis
7. Thyrotoxicosis
8. Tuberculosis.
Neutropenia
Neutropenia is the decrease in
neutrophil count. It occurs in:
1. Bone marrow disorders
2. Tuberculosis
3. Typhoid
4. Vitamin
deficiencies
5. Autoimmune diseases.
Eosinopenia
Decrease in eosinophil count is called
eosinopenia. It occurs in:
1. Cushing’s syndrome
2. Bacterial infections
3. Stress
4. Prolonged administration of drugs
such as steroids, ACTH, epinephrine.
Basopenia
Basopenia or basophilic leukopenia is
the decrease in basophil count. It occurs in:
1. Urticaria (skin disorder)
2. Stress
3. Prolonged exposure to chemotherapy
or radiation therapy.
Monocytopenia
Monocytopenia is the decrease in
monocyte count. It occurs in:
1. Prolonged use of prednisone
(immunosuppressant steroid)
2. AIDS
3. Chronic lymphoid leukemia.
Lymphocytopenia
Lymphocytopenia is the decrease in
lymphocytes. It occurs in:
1. AIDS
2. Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of the
lymphatic system)
3. Malnutrition
4. Radiation therapy
5. Steroid administration.
LIFESPAN OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS
Lifespan of WBCs is not constant. It depends
upon the demand in the body and their function. Lifespan of these cells may be
as short as half a day or it may be as long as 3 to 6 months.
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