Low lymphocyte count indicates that a lymphocyte count is less than 1000 cells per microliter of blood. This post checks out the causes and treatment techniques for low lymphocyte count, which is also referred to as lymphocytopenia or lymphopenia.
What are Lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes, an alternative name for white blood cells, are among the cell types of the body immune system of vertebrates. These cells protect the body from ending up being infected by bacteria and viruses as well as combat bacterial and viral infections. There are three main types of lymphocytes: B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Lymphocytes compose roughly 15 to 40% of the total white blood cells in the body. In a healthy adult a lymphocyte count of 1000 – 4800 cells per microliter of blood is thought about the normal range.
Low Lymphocyte Count Means
For adults, a lymphocyte count of less than 1000 cells per microliter of blood is thought about a low number of lymphocytes in his blood. Lymphocytopenia or lymphopenia are alternate terms for low lymphocyte counts. When the lymphocyte count is lowered, the body’s ability to withstand and battle infections is severely compromised and its sensitivity to cancer is increased. In addition, low lymphocyte counts might likewise cause damage to various organs. The following section will information the possible causes of low lymphocytes.
Causes of Low Lymphocyte Count
There are a number of aspects that can add to a low lymphocyte count. The causes can be classified into general causes, gotten causes, or acquired causes.
General Causes
- The body fails to produce an adequate number of lymphocytes.
- The body produces an enough number of lymphocytes, but they are destroyed.
- The lymphocytes end up being caught in the spleen or lymph nodes.
Obtained Causes
The acquired causes are related to underlying medical conditions or reactions to medical treatments. Some examples of acquired causes are:
- infectious illness
- autoimmune disorders
- steroid therapy
- blood cancers and blood diseases
- radiation/chemotherapy
Acquired Causes
The inherited causes are related to problems in the genes that play a role in lymphocyte development. Some essential examples of these illness are:
- DiGeorge anomaly
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
- Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome
- Ataxia-telangiectasia
Symptoms of Low Lymphocyte Count
It is frequently difficult for medical professionals to diagnose a low lymphocyte count since on its own it does not cause any obvious signs or symptoms, according to iytmed.com. In most cases, the condition of low lymphocyte count is normally identified during tests for others diseases. Prospective indications of a low lymphocyte count are uncommon infections, increased frequency of infections, and/or unsettled infections. These factors may trigger a doctor to perform additional tests to figure out the underlying cause of the low lymphocyte count.
Diagnosis of Low Lymphocyte Count
In order to diagnosis low lymphocyte count medical professionals normally take a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s medical history, that includes the patient’s risk for developing AIDS, any previous exposure to treatments that may account for a decrease in lymphocytes, and whether the patient has a family history of low lymphocyte counts. A physical examination is performed, during which the doctor checks for bigger lymph nodes and spleen, along with for other signs that would indicate an infection. A fever is a timeless symptom of an infection. Following the preliminary checkup, the patient might undergo added diagnostic tests to identify their blood count and to figure out whether underlying diseases may be contributing to their low lymphocyte count.
Treatments for Low Lymphocyte Count
Generally, if the low lymphocyte count is credited to a disease state, then the doctor will treat the disease with the hope that resolving the issue will bring back the lymphocyte cell count to typical levels. In cases of mild lymphocytopenia with no underlying cause, treatment is normally not administered, and in some cases the condition improves on its own. If the lymphopenia is caused by genetic flaws, the transplantation of blood stem cells and bone marrow stem cells is thought about a practical treatment option. Moreover, there are ongoing research studies to recognize medications and treatment techniques that can drive the body to develop more lymphocytes.
