Is leukopenia severe?

Written by Li Lang Bo

Endocrinology

Updated on September 21, 2024

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The normal value of white blood cells in the human body is 4 to 10×10^9/L. White blood cells mainly consist of neutrophils and lymphocytes, along with some other types of eosinophilic and basophilic granulocytes. If the total white blood cell count decreases, generally falling below 4 to 10×10^9/L, it is referred to as leukopenia. Among these, neutrophils are the most related to the body's immune response. If neutrophils decrease to less than 1.5×10^9/L, it is defined as neutropenia, which is very serious. If neutropenia occurs, the resistance to infections is greatly lowered, making the body highly susceptible to various infections. Active treatment to increase white blood cells is necessary; otherwise, any infection may lead to severe conditions like septicemia and septic shock, which can even be life-threatening.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun

Endocrinology

2min 1sec

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Is leukopenia very harmful?

Leukopenia primarily depends on the extent of the decrease in white blood cells, which can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe levels. Mild leukopenia generally means less than 4.0 X 10⁹/L, and if granulocytes are decreased, it typically means an absolute value of granulocytes less than 2.0 X 10⁹/L. A lack of granulocytes indicates a more severe condition, usually less than 0.5 X 10⁹/L. For patients with mild leukopenia, special preventive measures are generally not necessary. However, for moderate and severe leukopenia, the greatest risk is an increased chance of infection, as white blood cells are a marker of our ability to defend against external threats. With fewer of these defensive guards, the probability of resisting infections and the chance of acquiring infections significantly increase. Therefore, for patients with moderate leukopenia, their rate of infection increases, and it is important to take precautions, reduce visits to public places, maintain hygiene, and eliminate chronic infectious foci. For patients with severe leukopenia, aseptic isolation measures should be adopted. For patients who have infections, it is crucial to find sensitive antibiotics, preferably broad-spectrum antibiotics. If there is a concurrent fungal or viral infection, antifungal or antiviral medications should also be used, as the decrease in white blood cells can destroy a person's immune capacity, lowering immunity and increasing the chance of infections and the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, which in severe cases could even lead to sepsis or septic shock.

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Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

1min 10sec

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Leukopenia is a condition.

Leukopenia is defined as a condition in which the white blood cell count in peripheral blood persistently remains below 4 times 10 to the ninth power per liter. Since the components of white blood cells are mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes, particularly dominated by neutrophils, leukopenia is mostly caused by a decrease in neutrophils. The causes of leukopenia can be categorized into primary and secondary types. Primary leukopenia refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary leukopenia could be due to acute infections, physical or chemical factors, or certain diseases such as hematologic disorders, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, or genetic disorders. In addition, there are also some acquired or idiopathic cases of granulocytopenia that fall under the category of leukopenia. Typical symptoms of leukopenia include dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, reduced appetite, and mental sluggishness.

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Written by Yang Li

Endocrinology

45sec

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Can leukopenia cause fever?

Leukopenia can lead to fever. White blood cells are the guardians of the human body, protecting it against external invasions such as infections. When white blood cells are decreased, the patient's resistance to infections can be significantly reduced, making them particularly susceptible to infections. This can lead to fever, as often seen in hematological patients with leukopenia who frequently experience fevers due to their chronic infection states. Therefore, when leukopenia is accompanied by fever, it is advisable to seek hospital treatment as soon as possible, as proactive infection management is crucial.

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Written by Liu Lei

Endocrinology

1min 24sec

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What causes leukopenia?

Leukopenia mainly has the following three causes: 1) Drugs; 2) Infections; 3) Diseases that cause disturbances in white blood cell production. Drugs primarily include antibiotics such as sulfonamide antibiotics and penicillin; anti-tuberculosis drugs like rifampicin and isoniazid; anti-thyroid drugs such as methimazole and propylthiouracil; antipyretic analgesics like aminopyrine, indomethacin, and ibuprofen; and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine. Additionally, most chemotherapy drugs can cause a decrease in white blood cells. Viral infections can lead to a decrease in white blood cells or severe bacterial infections, such as sepsis and septicemia, along with some chronic infections. Diseases that cause disturbances in the production of white blood cells mainly refer to certain hematological diseases, such as aplastic anemia or malignant tumors that invade the bone marrow and affect hematopoiesis. Furthermore, there are some less common causes of leukopenia, such as familial inheritance and granulocyte distribution disorders.

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Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

54sec

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What causes leukopenia?

When the white blood cell count in the surrounding blood continuously remains below 4.0*10^9/L, we call this condition leukopenia. Typical symptoms of leukopenia include dizziness, fatigue, limb soreness, reduced appetite, and listlessness, although some patients may not exhibit any obvious clinical symptoms. The causes of leukopenia are very complex and can be classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary leukopenia refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary leukopenia refers to cases potentially caused by acute infections or physical and chemical factors, or diseases of the hematopoietic system, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, or genetic diseases, all of which may lead to a reduction in white blood cells.