Scribd
Upload
427 views5 pages

Normal WBC Count and Its Implications

A WBC count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. A low WBC count is called leukopenia and occurs when the level is below 4500 cells per microliter. A low count can be caused by bone marrow deficiencies, cancer treatments, certain infections or autoimmune disorders. A high WBC count is called leukocytosis and may result from infections, inflammatory diseases, cancers or stress. Certain medications can also affect WBC levels.

Uploaded by

yaneidys perez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
427 views5 pages

Normal WBC Count and Its Implications

A WBC count measures the number of white blood cells in the blood. A low WBC count is called leukopenia and occurs when the level is below 4500 cells per microliter. A low count can be caused by bone marrow deficiencies, cancer treatments, certain infections or autoimmune disorders. A high WBC count is called leukocytosis and may result from infections, inflammatory diseases, cancers or stress. Certain medications can also affect WBC levels.

Uploaded by

yaneidys perez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

WBC count

A WBC count is a blood test to measure


the number of white blood cells (WBCs)
in the blood.
WBCs help fight infections. They are
also called leukocytes. There are five
major types of white blood cells:

Basophils

Eosinophils
Lymphocytes (T cells and B cells)

Monocytes

Neutrophils
The normal number of WBCs in the blood
is 4,500 to 10,000 white blood cells per
microliter (mcL).

LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL (WBC) COUNT


A low number of WBCs is called leukopenia. A WBC count below 4500 is
below normal
One type of white blood cell is the neutrophil. This type of white blood
cell is important for fighting infections.

An adult with fewer than 1700 neutrophils in a microliter of blood


has a low white blood cell count.

If there are fewer than 500 neutrophils in a microliter of blood, the


risk for infection becomes even higher.
It may be due to:

Bone marrow deficiency or failure (for example, due to infection,


tumor, or abnormal scarring)

Cancer treating drugs, or other medicines (see list below)

Certain autoimmune disorders such as lupus

Disease of the liver or spleen

Radiation treatment for cancer

Certain viral illnesses, such as mononucleosis (mono)


Cancers that damage the bone marrow

Very severe bacterial infections

HIGH WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT


A high number of WBCs is called leukocytosis. It may be due to:

Aplastic anemia
Certain drugs or medicines (see list below)

Cigarette smoking

Not having a spleen, due to spleen removal

Infections, most often those caused by bacteria

Inflammatory disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergy)

Leukemia
Severe mental or physical stress

Tissue damage (for example, burns)


There may also be less common reasons for this result.

Drugs that may lower your WBC


count include:

Antibiotics

Anticonvulsants

Anti-thyroid drugs

Arsenicals

Captopril

Chemotherapy drugs

Chlorpromazine

Clozapine

Diuretics

Histamine-2 blockers

Sulfonamides

Quinidine

Terbinafine

Ticlopidine

Drugs that may increase WBC counts


include:

Beta adrenergic agonists (for example, albuterol)

Corticosteroids

Epinephrine

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Heparin

Lithium

Risks
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another, and from one
side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some
people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may
include:

Excessive bleeding

Fainting or feeling lightheaded

Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)

Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Alternative Names

Leukocyte count; White blood cell count

You might also like