Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Lymphocytes?CausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Lymphocytes?
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Lymphopenia(also known aslymphocytopenia) is a blood disorder that involves a reduced level oflymphocytes, which arewhite blood cellsthat help protect you from infection. Lymphocytes are an important part of the immune system and lymphopenia increases your risk of infections.
Lymphopenia can have many causes, such as viral or bacterial Infections, medications, inherited conditions, or autoimmune disorders. When treatment is needed, it will depend on the underlying cause.
This article explains lymphopenia, its causes, and how it’s diagnosed and treated.
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Leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow and circulate freely in the bloodstream as part of the immune system.Lymphocytesrepresent the largest proportion of these cells, ranging anywhere from 20% and 40%.
Lymphocytes can be further broken down into three subsets:Natural killer (NK) cellsserve as the first line of defense for the immune system.T cellsare produced in response to a specific pathogen.B cellsproduce antibodies that help other cells identify and neutralize pathogens.
Lymphocytes can be further broken down into three subsets:
What Causes Lymphopenia?
Infections
Viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites are all pathogens that can cause infections that may lead to lymphopenia. When lymphopenia is related to an infection, it is considered pathogenic.
Infections may kill off white blood cells faster than they can be produced or temporarily disrupt bone marrow.
Infections that can cause lymphopenia include:
Medical Treatments
Certain medications and medical treatments can destroy white blood cells and cause lymphopenia. This includes:
When the treatment for viral hepatitis includes the medications peginterferon and ribavirin, it can cause suppression of lymphocytes in some people. In others, it can affect the entire range of white blood cells (leukopenia).
Nutritional Deficiencies
Not eating enough protein, vitamins, or minerals can cause lymphopenia. Poor nutrition is a major risk factor for lymphopenia worldwide.
Excessive Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol, especially chronic heavy drinking, affects the immune system and can lead to lymphopenia.
Inherited Conditions
Inherited conditions that involve diminished bone marrow function can cause lymphopenia.
Inherited conditions include:
Blood Cancer or Blood Diseases
Blood cancers or other blood diseases that damage marrow or disrupt the production of blood cells can lead to lymphopenia. Cancers and blood diseases include:
Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders that destroy white blood cells or bone marrow cells can cause lymphopenia.
This includes:
Lymphopenia Symptoms
Lymphopenia may not have any symptoms yet it may get discovered during routine blood tests.
When there are signs and symptoms of lymphopenia, they may include:
Your healthcare provider can diagnose lymphopenia based on a combination of your personal and family medical history, a physical exam, and test results.
During a physical exam, swollen lymph nodes, skin issues, or a spleen that is larger than normal may be noticed.
Tests may include:
An overall low white blood cell count (leukopenia) is most often detected when your healthcare provider orders a test for a condition you’re already experiencing. A low count is rarely an unexpected finding.
In some cases, the type of white blood cell affected may be enough to point you in the direction of a diagnosis. At other times, you may need additional tests to piece together a cause.
Other tests can check for different diseases that cause lymphopenia such as HIV, COVID-19 or other viruses, tuberculosis, or other blood or immune conditions. Your provider may also test your bone marrow or yourlymph nodes.
What Is a Low Level of Lymphocytes?Adults may be diagnosed with lymphopenia if they have less than 1,500 lymphocytes per microliter of blood. For children, it varies based on their age. Children ages 6 and younger may be diagnosed with lymphopenia if they have less than 2,000 lymphocytes per microliter of blood.
What Is a Low Level of Lymphocytes?
Adults may be diagnosed with lymphopenia if they have less than 1,500 lymphocytes per microliter of blood. For children, it varies based on their age. Children ages 6 and younger may be diagnosed with lymphopenia if they have less than 2,000 lymphocytes per microliter of blood.
How Do You Treat Lymphopenia?
Mild cases of lymphopenia may resolve on their own without treatment.
When treatment is needed, it will be based on the underlying cause and the specific health condition that is causing the lymphopenia. This may include treatments for particular infections, cancers, or autoimmune disorders, for example.
If your white blood cell count is very low, you may need to take special precautions to prevent illness. This includes avoiding others who may be ill, wearing a face mask if you are in a confined space with others (such as an airplane), and washing your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Summary
Lymphopenia is when your blood doesn’t have enough lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells. It puts you at risk of new infections and getting sick.
If treatment is needed, it will target the underlying cause.
8 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.National Cancer Institute. Seer Training Modules.Composition of the blood.Territo M.Lymphocytopenia.Merck Manual Professional Version. Kenilworth, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc.; 2019.Hartono C, Muthukumar T, Suthanthiran M.Immunosuppressive drug therapy.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3:a015487 doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a015487Naeim F, Rao PN, Grody WW.Atlas of Hematopathology:Morphology, Immunophenotype, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Approaches.London, UK: Elsevier Health Science; 2013.National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.Lymphopenia.Pasala S, Barr T, Messaoudi I.Impact of alcohol abuse on the adaptive immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):185-197.Kliegman RM, St. Geme J.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2019.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infection in cancer patients.Additional ReadingJaneway, C.; Travers, P.; Walport, M.; et al.Immunobiology(5th ed.) New York and London: Garland Science; ISBN 0-8153-4102-6.Regent, A.; Autran, B.; Carcelain, G.; et al. “Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: clinical and immunologic characteristics and follow-up of 40 patients.”Medicine.2014; 93(2):61-72.
8 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.National Cancer Institute. Seer Training Modules.Composition of the blood.Territo M.Lymphocytopenia.Merck Manual Professional Version. Kenilworth, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc.; 2019.Hartono C, Muthukumar T, Suthanthiran M.Immunosuppressive drug therapy.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3:a015487 doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a015487Naeim F, Rao PN, Grody WW.Atlas of Hematopathology:Morphology, Immunophenotype, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Approaches.London, UK: Elsevier Health Science; 2013.National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.Lymphopenia.Pasala S, Barr T, Messaoudi I.Impact of alcohol abuse on the adaptive immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):185-197.Kliegman RM, St. Geme J.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2019.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infection in cancer patients.Additional ReadingJaneway, C.; Travers, P.; Walport, M.; et al.Immunobiology(5th ed.) New York and London: Garland Science; ISBN 0-8153-4102-6.Regent, A.; Autran, B.; Carcelain, G.; et al. “Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: clinical and immunologic characteristics and follow-up of 40 patients.”Medicine.2014; 93(2):61-72.
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.
National Cancer Institute. Seer Training Modules.Composition of the blood.Territo M.Lymphocytopenia.Merck Manual Professional Version. Kenilworth, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc.; 2019.Hartono C, Muthukumar T, Suthanthiran M.Immunosuppressive drug therapy.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3:a015487 doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a015487Naeim F, Rao PN, Grody WW.Atlas of Hematopathology:Morphology, Immunophenotype, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Approaches.London, UK: Elsevier Health Science; 2013.National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.Lymphopenia.Pasala S, Barr T, Messaoudi I.Impact of alcohol abuse on the adaptive immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):185-197.Kliegman RM, St. Geme J.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2019.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infection in cancer patients.
National Cancer Institute. Seer Training Modules.Composition of the blood.
Territo M.Lymphocytopenia.Merck Manual Professional Version. Kenilworth, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc.; 2019.
Hartono C, Muthukumar T, Suthanthiran M.Immunosuppressive drug therapy.Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3:a015487 doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a015487
Naeim F, Rao PN, Grody WW.Atlas of Hematopathology:Morphology, Immunophenotype, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Approaches.London, UK: Elsevier Health Science; 2013.
National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.Lymphopenia.
Pasala S, Barr T, Messaoudi I.Impact of alcohol abuse on the adaptive immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):185-197.
Kliegman RM, St. Geme J.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. London, UK: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing infection in cancer patients.
Janeway, C.; Travers, P.; Walport, M.; et al.Immunobiology(5th ed.) New York and London: Garland Science; ISBN 0-8153-4102-6.Regent, A.; Autran, B.; Carcelain, G.; et al. “Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: clinical and immunologic characteristics and follow-up of 40 patients.”Medicine.2014; 93(2):61-72.
Janeway, C.; Travers, P.; Walport, M.; et al.Immunobiology(5th ed.) New York and London: Garland Science; ISBN 0-8153-4102-6.
Regent, A.; Autran, B.; Carcelain, G.; et al. “Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: clinical and immunologic characteristics and follow-up of 40 patients.”Medicine.2014; 93(2):61-72.
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