Lymphocytosis is usually found by a general blood count. In this case, the level of lymphocytes is significantly elevated. This may indicate various types of disease. Often it is caused by minor infections. It also happens to be a symptom of very serious neoplastic diseases, such as leukemia. If lymphocytosis is detected, the correct diagnosis of a specialist is necessary. What might a high level of lymphocytes indicate?

Lymphocytosisis a condition in which there is an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Absolute lymphocytosis is distinguished, during which there is an increase in the level of lymphocytes beyond the normal range. Relative lymphocytosis describes a situation where the percentage ratio of lymphocytes to total white blood cells deviates from normal.

This condition is a symptom of inflammatory processes in the body. It is associated with the imbalance of the immune system. It accompanies convalescence after infectious diseases. Sometimes it is the result of a reaction to the patient's medications and even stimulants or stress. Very high lymphocytosis may be a symptom of lymphocytic leukemias.

Contents:

  1. What is the reason for the increase in the number of lymphocytes?
  2. What does lymphocytosis mean?
  3. What are the symptoms of lymphocytosis?
  4. What is the diagnosis of lymphocytosis?
  5. Drugs that induce lymphocytosis
  6. Non-morbid factors that can trigger lymphocytosis
  7. What is the treatment for lymphocytosis?

What is the reason for the increase in the number of lymphocytes?

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. They play an important role in the work of the immune system. They help the body fight infections. For this reason, many minor diseases may be accompanied by lymphocytosis, i.e. an increase in the number of lymphocytes in response to an attack by an intruder, e.g. a virus.

A high level of these defense cells in the blood indicates that our body is trying to deal with an infection or other inflammation. Most often, short-term lymphocytosis is a normal effect of the body's immune system. Occasionally, however, the lymphocyte count may be elevated as a result of a serious emergency. An example of this is leukemia.

What does lymphocytosis mean?

Lymphocytosis occurs in the body in the event of an infection. This condition is especially characteristic of the course of infections in children.

In the elderly, disorders associated with too many lymphocytes may accompany leukemias and lymphomas. They often occur simultaneously with lymphadenopathy.

Causes of absolute lymphocytosis:

  • acute viral infections, including infectious mononucleosis
  • hepatitis
  • cytomegalovirus infection
  • whooping cough
  • certain protozoal infections such as toxoplasmosis
  • chronic intracellular bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and brucellosis
  • chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • lymphoma
  • state after splenectomy, i.e. complete or partial removal of the spleen

Causes of relative lymphocytosis:

  • acute viral infections
  • connective tissue diseases
  • thyrotoxicosis
  • Addison's disease
  • enlargement of the spleen with granulocyte sequestration

A diagnosis of lymphocytosis may indicate many he alth situations. One of them is cancer. However, don't panic after receiving negative results. They can indicate a minor infection and can even be the result of smoking too many cigarettes. Proper he alth assessment requires medical consultations and further tests.

What are the symptoms of lymphocytosis?

The state of lymphocytosis itself does not cause symptoms. However, they can occur due to its root cause, which is a disease affecting the number of lymphocytes. Depending on it, the perceived state of he alth of the patient may differ significantly.

Symptoms of lymphocytosis may be very severe, mild, or nonexistent. Their course is important for a proper diagnosis by a doctor.

Disturbing symptoms that, in combination with lymphocytosis, may indicate cancer:

  • fever
  • weight loss
  • easy bruising
  • fatigue

These symptoms are not very specific. They do not indicate cancer directly. In the event of their occurrence, in conjunction with lymphocytosis, you should visit a specialist: oncologist or hematologist.

They should be treated as an alarm lamp, not a basis for self-diagnosis.

What is the diagnosis of lymphocytosis?

Lymphocytosis is most often detected when performing a complete blood count with differentiation. Lymphocyte counts can also be directly measured by flow cytometry. This test checks ifthese cells are clonal. This situation is characteristic of lymphocytic leukemia.

Since lymphocyte counts vary with age, diagnosis should be made using age-dependent normal ranges. In adults, absolute lymphocytosis is found when the number of lymphocytes exceeds 4,000 per microliter. For children, the limit is 7,000 per microliter, and for infants, 9,000 per microliter.

Lymphocytes, normal, make up 20% to 40% of circulating white blood cells. When the percentage of lymphocytes exceeds 40%, it is diagnosed as relative lymphocytosis.

A bone marrow biopsy is performed to determine the root cause of the lymphocytosis. In the process of making a diagnosis, doctors analyze the history of the disease, current symptoms and a list of medications taken. A physical examination is also important.

Lymphocytosis can be a sign of many different diseases. For this reason, it is important to establish its cause in order to start the treatment process properly.

Drugs that induce lymphocytosis

There are situations when the lymphocytosis found in the tests is not a consequence of the disease, but the effect of the medications taken by the patient.

DRESS syndrome, which is a drug reaction resulting in eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, can also cause atypical lymphocytosis. The substances that may be responsible for it include:

  • fenobarbital
  • carbamazepine
  • phenytoin
  • lamotrygina
  • minocycline
  • sulfonamides
  • allopurinol
  • modafonil
  • dapson

Lymphocytosis may also be the result of hypersensitivity to various medications and herbs. Its occurrence is sometimes even associated with the use of preparations containing ginseng.

Non-morbid factors that can trigger lymphocytosis

There are also factors other than drugs that can induce non-disease lymphocytosis. These include:

  • surgical procedures
  • physical exertion
  • trauma
  • smoking

What is the treatment for lymphocytosis?

In the case of lymphocytosis, in order to improve the results, it is necessary to correctly diagnose its root cause. It is a disease that results in an increased level of lymphocytes.

In most patients, lymphocytosis resolves as a result of an improvement in overall he alth.

Read also:

  • Lymphopenia: decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. Causes, types and treatment of lymphopenia
  • B lymphocytes - types, functions, correct concentration of eblood
  • LYMPHOCYTE LEATHERIA (CLL) - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
About the authorSara Janowska, MA in pharmacyPhD student of interdisciplinary doctoral studies in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences at the Medical University of Lublin and the Institute of Biotechnology in Białystok. A graduate of pharmaceutical studies at the Medical University of Lublin with a specialization in Plant Medicine. She obtained a master's degree defending a thesis in the field of pharmaceutical botany on the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from twenty species of mosses. Currently, in his research work, he deals with the synthesis of new anti-cancer substances and the study of their properties on cancer cell lines. For two years she worked as a master of pharmacy in an open pharmacy.

Read more articles by this author

Category:

Research