Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
White blood cell disorders occur when you have too many or too fewwhite blood cells. White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are one of three types of cells that compose the blood. They are produced in thebone marrowand play an important role in your immune system.
Doctors can measure these cells with a test called awhite blood cell (WBC) count. Whenwhite blood cells are abnormally high, it usually suggests that your immune system is fighting a disease or infection. When they are too low, it suggests that a disease,autoimmune disorder, or other condition has weakened your immune system.
Verywell / Laura Porter
While you cannot diagnose any medical condition based on a white blood cell count, the test can often be the first sign of a disease and even hint at what kind of disease you have.
This article will discuss the different types of white blood cell disorders and how to recognize them. It will also look at the causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
A disorder refers to any condition that disrupts the normal functioning of the body. White blood cell disorders fall into quantitative or qualitative disorders. The first means that normal cells appear in abnormal numbers; the second means the cells themselves have changed.
These disorders manifest in ways that include:
There are also five major types of white blood cells, each of which has a specific function:
Some diseases only affect one type of white blood cell, while others affect many. For instance, lymphocytic leukocytosis only affects lymphocytes, while neutrophilic leukocytosis only affects neutrophils.The type of cells affected can help doctors figure out what type of condition they are dealing with.
What Are Blood Dyscrasias?
Symptoms of white blood cell disorders can vary based on the underlying cause, although some people may be asymptomatic (without symptoms). If symptoms develop, they can often be non-specific. There can even be an overlap in symptoms between leukopenia and leukocytosis.
LeukopeniaFeverChillsFatigueLightheadedness or dizzinessSweatingA general feeling of unwellnessMouth or skin soresBody achesCoughSore throatTrouble breathingLeukocytosisFeverBleeding or bruisingFatigueLightheadedness or dizzinessSweatingPain or tingling in the legs, arms, or abdomenVision problemsUnclear thinkingLoss of appetiteTrouble breathing
LeukopeniaFeverChillsFatigueLightheadedness or dizzinessSweatingA general feeling of unwellnessMouth or skin soresBody achesCoughSore throatTrouble breathing
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Sweating
A general feeling of unwellness
Mouth or skin sores
Body aches
Cough
Sore throat
Trouble breathing
LeukocytosisFeverBleeding or bruisingFatigueLightheadedness or dizzinessSweatingPain or tingling in the legs, arms, or abdomenVision problemsUnclear thinkingLoss of appetiteTrouble breathing
Bleeding or bruising
Pain or tingling in the legs, arms, or abdomen
Vision problems
Unclear thinking
Loss of appetite
There are many different causes of white blood cell disorders. Some are due to a severe infection, an autoimmune disease, genetics, or cancers affecting blood cells or bone marrow.
Some of the more common reasons for leukopenia include infections (pneumoniaamong them) or the side effects of certain medications, such asantithyroid drugs.Malnutrition, with low levels ofvitamin B12, folic acid, or copper, also can lead to leukopenia.
Some of the white blood cell disorders associated with leukopenia include:
Leukocytosis also has some common causes, including allergic and drug reactions or bacterial infection. People diagnosed withEpstein-Barr virus(and infectious mononucleosis) also may experience it.
Some of the white blood cell disorders also associated with leukocytosis include:
One of the first tests used to diagnose a white blood cell disorder is acomplete blood count (CBC). This test measures all of the different types of blood cells in a sample of blood. It also measures the proportion of individual blood cells, which can help narrow the possible causes.
The lab results are compared to a reference range of high and low values. The reference range for the total white blood cell (WBC) count can vary from one lab to the next but is typically described as follows:
If your results are above or below normal, your doctor will investigate the possible causes. This may include a blood smear in which a drop of blood is placed on a glass slide and examined under the microscope to look for any abnormalities in the cell’s structure.
If you require further investigation, you may be referred to a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood disorders, or an immunologist, a doctor who specializes in disorders of the immune system.
What Is Pancytopenia?
The treatment of white blood cell disorders differs according to the cause. Some treatments are used to cure the disease, while others simply manage the disease and keep it in check. Others still are used to relieve symptoms or help normalize the white blood cell count.
Possible treatments include:
Neutrophils can be selectively collected and given as a transfusion to patients that would benefit. There are other specialty cellular therapy products, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy products.
Summary
A white blood cell disorder is one in which the white blood cells are either qualitatively or quantitatively affected. There are many possible causes of this, including infections, genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and, in rare cases, cancer. There are even cases in which the cause is unknown.
White blood cell disorders often require extensive tests to uncover the underlying cause. This may include a complete blood count (CBC) and blood smear but also special procedures like a bone marrow biopsy.
A Word From Verywell
There is a wide range of white blood cell disorders, some of which are more serious than others. Many are chronic health concerns, meaning that you have to work closely with your doctor over the long term to keep yourself healthy.
With that said, having an abnormally high or abnormally low white blood cell count doesn’t necessarily mean you have a serious disease. Some conditions are readily treatable, while others may have no known cause or symptoms.
If your white blood cell count is abnormal, try not to jump to conclusions. Instead, work with your doctor to reach a diagnosis. If you don’t understand what a test result means, ask your doctor to explain so that you can participate fully in any treatment decisions.
For adults, the normal range of white blood cells is about 4,500 to 11,000 cell/mL. What’s considered a normal range may vary slightly depending on the lab performing your test and what is normal for your body.Your healthcare provider will talk to you about your results and whether you need further testing.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.White blood count (WBC).Christen D, Brummendorf TH, Panse J.Leukopenia - a diagnostic guideline for the clinical routine.Dtsch Med Wochenschr.2017 Nov;142(23):1744-9. doi:10.1055/s-0043-113123Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician.2015 Dec 1;92(11):1004-11.George TI.Malignant or benign leukocytosis.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2012;2012:475-84. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2012.1.475Andrès E, Mourot-Cottet R, Maloisel F, et al.Idiosyncratic drug-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis.QJM. 2017 May;110(5):299-305. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcw220BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of neutropenia.Marinella M.Leukocytosis and Leukopenia.MedlinePlus.WBC count.Epomedicine.Steroid Induced Leukocytosis [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2016.American Cancer Society.CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.White blood count & diet.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.White blood count (WBC).Christen D, Brummendorf TH, Panse J.Leukopenia - a diagnostic guideline for the clinical routine.Dtsch Med Wochenschr.2017 Nov;142(23):1744-9. doi:10.1055/s-0043-113123Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician.2015 Dec 1;92(11):1004-11.George TI.Malignant or benign leukocytosis.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2012;2012:475-84. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2012.1.475Andrès E, Mourot-Cottet R, Maloisel F, et al.Idiosyncratic drug-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis.QJM. 2017 May;110(5):299-305. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcw220BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of neutropenia.Marinella M.Leukocytosis and Leukopenia.MedlinePlus.WBC count.Epomedicine.Steroid Induced Leukocytosis [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2016.American Cancer Society.CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.White blood count & diet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.White blood count (WBC).Christen D, Brummendorf TH, Panse J.Leukopenia - a diagnostic guideline for the clinical routine.Dtsch Med Wochenschr.2017 Nov;142(23):1744-9. doi:10.1055/s-0043-113123Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician.2015 Dec 1;92(11):1004-11.George TI.Malignant or benign leukocytosis.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2012;2012:475-84. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2012.1.475Andrès E, Mourot-Cottet R, Maloisel F, et al.Idiosyncratic drug-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis.QJM. 2017 May;110(5):299-305. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcw220BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of neutropenia.Marinella M.Leukocytosis and Leukopenia.MedlinePlus.WBC count.Epomedicine.Steroid Induced Leukocytosis [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2016.American Cancer Society.CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.White blood count & diet.
MedlinePlus.White blood count (WBC).
Christen D, Brummendorf TH, Panse J.Leukopenia - a diagnostic guideline for the clinical routine.Dtsch Med Wochenschr.2017 Nov;142(23):1744-9. doi:10.1055/s-0043-113123
Riley LK, Rupert J.Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis.Am Fam Physician.2015 Dec 1;92(11):1004-11.
George TI.Malignant or benign leukocytosis.Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2012;2012:475-84. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2012.1.475
Andrès E, Mourot-Cottet R, Maloisel F, et al.Idiosyncratic drug-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis.QJM. 2017 May;110(5):299-305. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcw220
BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of neutropenia.
Marinella M.Leukocytosis and Leukopenia.
MedlinePlus.WBC count.
Epomedicine.Steroid Induced Leukocytosis [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2016.
American Cancer Society.CAR T-cell therapy and its side effects.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.White blood count & diet.
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