General Discussion
White blood cells or leukocytes, known as "defenses", are of great importance for the proper functioning of the immune system. Its main function is to combat foreign agents and substances such as germs, bacteria and viruses.
They represent 1% of the total blood, the values or proportions that we have in the body can indicate certain diseases linked to bacteria or allergies in the body.
How to measure WBC level?
Complete
blood count (CBC) is a blood test to measure the amount of each type of
white blood cell. All major blood cells are measured, including white
blood cells.
THE APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF LEUKOCYTES IN THE BLOOD
The
values will depend on gender and age. Typically, there should be
between 4,500 and 11,000 leukocytes per microliter of blood in adults.
A
decrease in white blood cells, below 4 thousand per microliter of
blood, lowers defenses and makes us vulnerable to allergies, bacteria
and infections. This problem is called leukopenia.
If
it exceeds 11,000 there is an excess of white blood cells. Having high
leukocytes by itself is not a disease, but it does alert us to a
problem in our health that must be treated to avoid complications.
Types of Leukocytes and their normal values
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes
are cells that regulate the body's immune response. Its normal value
is between 1,000 and 4,000 lymphocytes in a microliter. Values below
1,000 lymphocytes are lymphopenia.
Within lymphocytes there are three subtypes:
*B lymphocytes (antibody or immunoglobulin producers)
* T lymphocytes
*NK (natural killer) cells
Monocytes
Monocytes
are macrophages responsible for remand or damaged tissue and destroying
tumor cells. Its normal value is between 150 and 900 monocytes in a
microliter. Values below 150 are monocytopenia.
Neutrophils (granulocytes)
Neutrophils
are among the first cells to go straight to infection. They have the
ability to engulf microorganisms and secrete destructive substances
against them. Its normal value is between 2,000 and 8,000 neutrophils
in a microliter. Values below 2,000 are neutropenia and values
below 1,000 are considered severe neutropenia and imply a risk of
serious infection.
Basophils (granulocytes)
Basophils
also have a destructive “housekeeping” function and participate in
allergic reactions by releasing histamine. Its normal value is between
10 and 150 basophils in a microliter. Values below 10 are basopenia.
Some causes would be thyrotoxicosis, acute hypersensitivity reactions, and infections.
Eosinophils (granulocytes)
Eosinophils
react against allergic reactions, asthma, and parasitic infection. Its
normal value is between 50 and 500 eosinophils in a microliter. Values
below 50 are eosinopenia.
Some causes would be Cushing's syndrome, severe infections, and corticosteroid treatment.
What information do they give us?
When
a conventional analysis is performed, the total leukocyte count is
always reflected. The proportion of the different leukocytes (number,
shape and cell maturity) is also analyzed. Number of leukocyte may
change according to the age, race, tobacco use, intake of certain drugs,
etc. Therefore, the result of the analysis must be interpreted
individually and taking into account the medical environment of the
patient, the symptoms and treatments carried out.
The
leukocyte count contributes to the diagnosis of inflammatory,
infectious, allergic, immune, carcinogenic processes. Likewise, the
monitoring of the values in successive analyzes allows us to know the
response to treatment and the evolution of the pathology. For example,
we will request an analysis with a leukocyte count in the event of
symptoms such as fever, poor general condition, pain, unjustified weight
loss, asthenia, fatigue. It may be necessary to complement the study
with a bone marrow aspirate or biopsy.
