White blood cells are the soldiers that constitute the body immune system of the body. In leukopenia there is a reduced white blood cell count. When this takes place, the resistance is badly damaged and the person is at a higher danger of infections. Leukopenia may be caused by diseases, medications, and genetic shortages.
Leukocyte
White blood cells are also called leukocytes. The Greek word ‘leuko’ indicates white and ‘cyte’ implies cell. Usually there are around 7000 white blood cells per microliter of blood. This forms around 1 % of the total blood volume in healthy adult people. A reduction below the lower limitation is called leukopenia.
Leukocyte classification
Leukocytes are classified according to the presence of granules within them. The ones with granules are the granulocytes while the ones without are the agranulocytes.
Granulocytes
Granulocytes are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These possess granules which are really membrane-bound enzymes acting on the getting into organisms that have been swallowed up by the cell.
There are three types of granulocytes that are named according to their staining buildings:
- neutrophils
- basophils
- eosinophils
Agranulocytes
Agranulocytes are also called mononuclear leukocytes and do not have granules in their cytoplasm. These include some azurophilic granules, which are in fact lysosomes that help in killing the attacking organism. The cells include lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.
Are leukopenia and neutropenia the very same?
Leukopenia is a decrease in the distributing WBC count to < 4000/ μL. It is normally defined by a decreased variety of circulating neutrophils, although a minimized number of lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, or basophils might also contribute. Therefore, immune function is generally greatly reduced.
Neutropenia is a reduction in blood neutrophil count to < 1500/ μL in whites and < 1200/ μL in blacks. It is more severe when accompanied by monocytopenia and lymphocytopenia. Lymphocytopenia, in which the total number of lymphocytes is < 1000/ μL in grownups, is not always acknowledged as a decrease in the overall WBC count, since lymphocytes represent only 20 to 40 % of the total WBC count. The most typical kind of leukopenia is neutropenia Generally Neutrophils consist of about 45 to 75 percent of the overall leukocyte count. These are the most vital initial fighters of the body immune system.
They are accountable for fighting bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. Neutropenia raises the risk of bacterial infections. If the condition is not dealt with early this might lead to harmful infections, septic shock as well as death. Medical diagnosis of leukopenia and neutropenia. A total blood count assists in medical diagnosis of leukopenia and neutropenia.
Neutropenia in grownups is defined as an absolute neutrophil count of less than 500 cells per microliter(µL )of blood. Counts less than 1000 cells/ µL are hazardous and may raise the threat of infections. Management of leukopenia Treatment of leukopenia depends on the reason for the condition. For instance, if there is a bone marrow suppression due to medications like anti-cancer chemotherapy, stopping the drug might frequently cause recovery in the leukocyte counts. Neutropenia is likewise associated with radiation treatment affecting the bone marrow.
Once the therapy is stopped the counts may recuperate. Leukopenia causes due to bacterial or fungal infections might be treated with proper antibiotics and antifungals respectively. Those with genetic conditions leading to leukopenia may require granulocyte colony-stimulating aspect and other bone marrow– obtained development aspects to promote production of the WBCs.
