Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Neutrophils?What They DoSymptomsHigh NeutrophilsLow NeutrophilsNeutrophil CountPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Are Neutrophils?

What They Do

Symptoms

High Neutrophils

Low Neutrophils

Neutrophil Count

Prevention

In rare cases, low or high neutrophils can be a sign of something serious, like cancer.

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. They can become high when they leave your bone marrow to help combat an infection. Low neutrophils happen when there is decreased production or storage of these cells.

An illustration with potential causes of abnormal neutrophils

Neutrophilsare a type ofwhite blood cellthat make up part of theimmune system’s frontline defense. Approximately 40% to 60% of all of your white blood cells (WBCs) are neutrophils.A normal neutrophil range for a healthy adult is between 2,500 and 6,000 neutrophils per microliter (µL) of blood.

What Do Neutrophils Do?

Among their many functions, neutrophils protect you from infection. As part of yourinnate immune response, neutrophils are one of the first WBCs to arrive on the scene when you get abacterial infection.

Neutrophils are classified as bothgranulocytesandphagocytes. By definition:

Symptoms of Neutrophil Conditions

If you have high or low neutrophils, you may experience symptoms related to the infection or other condition that is causing your neutrophil levels to be high or low. For example:

Conditions That Cause High Neutrophils

Causes of primary neutrophilia include:

Causes of secondary neutrophilia include:

Infections are more likely to cause high neutrophils if they are bacterial infections, though viral infections can also cause neturophilia, especially in the early stages. Fungal and parasitic infections can also cause high netrophils.

Does COVID-19 Cause High Neutrophils?Neutrophilia is common with severe COVID-19 infection. While the high production of neutrophils is the body’s way of fighting the infection, the excessive activation of neutrophils can trigger an immune overreaction called acytokine storm. This can lead to the formation of potentially life-threatening blood clots, includingdeep vein thrombosis (DVT)andpulmonary embolism.

Does COVID-19 Cause High Neutrophils?

Neutrophilia is common with severe COVID-19 infection. While the high production of neutrophils is the body’s way of fighting the infection, the excessive activation of neutrophils can trigger an immune overreaction called acytokine storm. This can lead to the formation of potentially life-threatening blood clots, includingdeep vein thrombosis (DVT)andpulmonary embolism.

Conditions That Cause Low Neutrophils

Low neutrophils are calledneutropenia.A decreased neutrophil count could be due to:

Neutrophil Count and What It Means

Anabsolute neutrophil count (ANC)is part of a battery of tests known as acomplete blood count (CBC). This may be done as part of a routine exam or to help your healthcare provider diagnose certain conditions.

If the ANC is higher or lower than the normal range of values—between 2,500 and 6,000—further evaluation will be needed to help determine the underlying cause.

Absolute neutrophils are considered high when they are above 6,000. This may be due to a number of mechanisms that increase the number of neutrophils in response to various diseases or circumstances.

Examples include:

Do High Neutrophils Mean Leukemia?Although high neutrophils can be a sign of leukemia, there are many other medical conditions that can cause your neutrophils to be high.

Do High Neutrophils Mean Leukemia?

Although high neutrophils can be a sign of leukemia, there are many other medical conditions that can cause your neutrophils to be high.

Neutropenia is when your neutrophil levels are less than 2,500. A level of less than 1,000 is the most serious and can increase the risk of infection.

Symptoms of neutropenia can vary but may include fever, chills, fatigue, sore throat, mouth sores, cough, shortness of breath, skin sores, painful urination, or diarrhea.

Several mechanisms can result in a low neutrophil count:

How Do I Lower My Neutrophils?There is no one way to lower your neutrophils. Your neutrophils should go down with treatment for the condition that is causing them, or as your body naturally eliminates the source of an infection. Some of the ways the conditions that cause high neutrophils might be treated include:Antibiotics for bacterial infectionsA bone marrow transplantSwitching medication or reducing the dose of medicationTreating the autoimmune condition that is causing high neutrophils

How Do I Lower My Neutrophils?

There is no one way to lower your neutrophils. Your neutrophils should go down with treatment for the condition that is causing them, or as your body naturally eliminates the source of an infection. Some of the ways the conditions that cause high neutrophils might be treated include:Antibiotics for bacterial infectionsA bone marrow transplantSwitching medication or reducing the dose of medicationTreating the autoimmune condition that is causing high neutrophils

There is no one way to lower your neutrophils. Your neutrophils should go down with treatment for the condition that is causing them, or as your body naturally eliminates the source of an infection. Some of the ways the conditions that cause high neutrophils might be treated include:

There are times when neutrophilia or neutropenia cannot be avoided, such as with certain congenital disorders and chronic diseases. Even so, there are ways to better maintain neutrophil levels to fight infection and remain healthy:

Summary

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell (WBC) that play a key role in fighting off infection. Your level of neutrophils in the blood can change, depending on a number of factors, including infection, stress, chemotherapy treatment, or nutritional deficiencies.

In some cases, your neutrophil levels will be high. This condition is called neutrophilia. In cases of neutropenia, the level may be low—even dangerously low. Your healthcare provider can begin with blood tests and move forward in diagnosing the cause of any neutrophil level changes.

17 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.Mount Sinai.Blood differential test.American Cancer Society.Understanding your lab test results.McCracken JM, Allen LA.Regulation of human neutrophil apoptosis and lifespan in health and disease.J Cell Death. 2014 May 8;7:15-23. doi:10.4137/JCD.S11038.Jenne CN, Liao S, Singh B.Neutrophils: multitasking first responders of immunity and tissue homeostasis.Cell Tissue Res.2018;371(3):395-397. doi:10.1007/s00441-018-2802-5Rosales C.Neutrophil: a cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol.2018;9:113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113National Cancer Institute.Chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment.Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Polycythemia vera.Xiong S, Dong L, Cheng L.Neutrophils in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.J Hematol Oncol.2021;14:173. doi:10.1186/s13045-021-01187-yFoucar K, Chabot-Richards D, Czuchlewski DR, et l. .Neutrophilia. In:Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow (Second Edition).Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018.Li J, Zhang K, Zhang Y, et al.Neutrophils in COVID-19: recent insights and advances.Virol J.2023;20:169. doi:10.1186/s12985-023-02116-wGibson C, Berliner N.How we evaluate and treat neutropenia in adults.Blood. 2014;124(8):1251-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-02-482612National Cancer Institute.Absolute neutrophil count.Dahdah A, Johnson J, Gopalkrishna S.Neutrophil migratory patterns: implications for cardiovascular disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10(2022. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.795784American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Neutropenia.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Cyclic neutropenia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neutropenia and risk for infection.

17 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.Mount Sinai.Blood differential test.American Cancer Society.Understanding your lab test results.McCracken JM, Allen LA.Regulation of human neutrophil apoptosis and lifespan in health and disease.J Cell Death. 2014 May 8;7:15-23. doi:10.4137/JCD.S11038.Jenne CN, Liao S, Singh B.Neutrophils: multitasking first responders of immunity and tissue homeostasis.Cell Tissue Res.2018;371(3):395-397. doi:10.1007/s00441-018-2802-5Rosales C.Neutrophil: a cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol.2018;9:113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113National Cancer Institute.Chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment.Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Polycythemia vera.Xiong S, Dong L, Cheng L.Neutrophils in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.J Hematol Oncol.2021;14:173. doi:10.1186/s13045-021-01187-yFoucar K, Chabot-Richards D, Czuchlewski DR, et l. .Neutrophilia. In:Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow (Second Edition).Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018.Li J, Zhang K, Zhang Y, et al.Neutrophils in COVID-19: recent insights and advances.Virol J.2023;20:169. doi:10.1186/s12985-023-02116-wGibson C, Berliner N.How we evaluate and treat neutropenia in adults.Blood. 2014;124(8):1251-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-02-482612National Cancer Institute.Absolute neutrophil count.Dahdah A, Johnson J, Gopalkrishna S.Neutrophil migratory patterns: implications for cardiovascular disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10(2022. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.795784American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Neutropenia.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Cyclic neutropenia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neutropenia and risk for infection.

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.

Mount Sinai.Blood differential test.American Cancer Society.Understanding your lab test results.McCracken JM, Allen LA.Regulation of human neutrophil apoptosis and lifespan in health and disease.J Cell Death. 2014 May 8;7:15-23. doi:10.4137/JCD.S11038.Jenne CN, Liao S, Singh B.Neutrophils: multitasking first responders of immunity and tissue homeostasis.Cell Tissue Res.2018;371(3):395-397. doi:10.1007/s00441-018-2802-5Rosales C.Neutrophil: a cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol.2018;9:113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113National Cancer Institute.Chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment.Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Polycythemia vera.Xiong S, Dong L, Cheng L.Neutrophils in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.J Hematol Oncol.2021;14:173. doi:10.1186/s13045-021-01187-yFoucar K, Chabot-Richards D, Czuchlewski DR, et l. .Neutrophilia. In:Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow (Second Edition).Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018.Li J, Zhang K, Zhang Y, et al.Neutrophils in COVID-19: recent insights and advances.Virol J.2023;20:169. doi:10.1186/s12985-023-02116-wGibson C, Berliner N.How we evaluate and treat neutropenia in adults.Blood. 2014;124(8):1251-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-02-482612National Cancer Institute.Absolute neutrophil count.Dahdah A, Johnson J, Gopalkrishna S.Neutrophil migratory patterns: implications for cardiovascular disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10(2022. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.795784American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Neutropenia.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Cyclic neutropenia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neutropenia and risk for infection.

Mount Sinai.Blood differential test.

American Cancer Society.Understanding your lab test results.

McCracken JM, Allen LA.Regulation of human neutrophil apoptosis and lifespan in health and disease.J Cell Death. 2014 May 8;7:15-23. doi:10.4137/JCD.S11038.

Jenne CN, Liao S, Singh B.Neutrophils: multitasking first responders of immunity and tissue homeostasis.Cell Tissue Res.2018;371(3):395-397. doi:10.1007/s00441-018-2802-5

Rosales C.Neutrophil: a cell with many roles in inflammation or several cell types?Front Physiol.2018;9:113. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00113

National Cancer Institute.Chronic myelogenous leukemia treatment.

Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Polycythemia vera.

Xiong S, Dong L, Cheng L.Neutrophils in cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.J Hematol Oncol.2021;14:173. doi:10.1186/s13045-021-01187-y

Foucar K, Chabot-Richards D, Czuchlewski DR, et l. .Neutrophilia. In:Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow (Second Edition).Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018.

Li J, Zhang K, Zhang Y, et al.Neutrophils in COVID-19: recent insights and advances.Virol J.2023;20:169. doi:10.1186/s12985-023-02116-w

Gibson C, Berliner N.How we evaluate and treat neutropenia in adults.Blood. 2014;124(8):1251-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-02-482612

National Cancer Institute.Absolute neutrophil count.

Dahdah A, Johnson J, Gopalkrishna S.Neutrophil migratory patterns: implications for cardiovascular disease. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10(2022. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.795784

American Society of Clinical Oncologists.Neutropenia.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Cyclic neutropenia.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neutropenia and risk for infection.

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