Neutropenia - what is it? Causes, treatment

Neutropenia - what is it? This is a reduction in the blood levels of specific blood cells that mature in the bone marrow. The lowered level of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) indicates changes that occur in our body. One of the important functions of white blood cells is protection from pathogenic bacteria and viruses. After the entry of neutrophils into the bloodstream, their task is the destruction of foreign agents. With a reduced number of these bodies, our body is weakened and can no longer fight with infectious diseases.

How is the number of white cells detected?

The level of these elements varies widely. In healthy people, from 1500 to 7000 thousand neutrophils are present in the blood plasma. The severity of the disease depends on the total number of ASC:

- soft form - within 1500 cells;

- moderate - 500-1000 cells / μl;

- heavy - less than 500.

May be a short-lived neutropenia (what is this condition, was described in the beginning), especially when taking antiviral drugs. After treatment, their amount is completely restored. However, if this condition is observed for more than a week, then there is a threat of developing chronic blood pathology and infectious diseases (tonsillitis, respiratory system diseases). Remember that protracted influenza-like manifestations should alert you and force you to undergo a survey. The severe stage is dangerous complications.

Neutropenia: the causes of the appearance

One of the main causes are bacterial and viral infections. A key role in the development of the disease is played by inflammatory processes, chemotherapy, avitaminosis, bone marrow trauma, aplastic anemia and long-term use of medications. The number of white cells decreases with little production or permanent destruction of leukocytes in the bloodstream.

Forms of neutropenia

A feature of the febrile form is its instant progression and course. Pathogenic microorganisms, penetrating into a weakened organism, quickly spread, leading to serious consequences. The second feature is the scarcity of clinical signs. The only symptom of the infectious process can be fever.

The cause of the cyclical form of pathology by doctors has not yet been revealed. But more often there is such a neutropenia in young children and the elderly. The third form is called "autoimmune", occurs as a result of taking antituberculous drugs and "Analgin". It is observed in dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases.

Each form has its own manifestations, which you should pay attention to. Often the diagnosis occurs simultaneously lymphocytosis and neutropenia - appears in pathologies of the autonomic nervous system and bronchial asthma.

Main features

Symptoms of pathology do not have a pronounced picture, so doctors talk about the clinical signs associated with an existing infection that appeared against the background of neutropenia. The severity and nature of the disease depends on the form. When the patient is febrile, the temperature rises (above 38 ° C) for no apparent reason, accompanied by weakness, chills, hypotension, tachycardia and pouring sweat. In the analyzes, the number of white cells is not more than 500, so the focus of the infection is difficult to detect.

It is noticed that this type often appears in people with oncological pathologies. The cyclic form is manifested by relapses. The patient complains of headaches, fever, pharyngitis and arthritis. Sometimes there are ulcers on the oral mucosa. In the absence of therapy, tartar develops, which subsequently leads to tooth loss. Autoimmune neutropenia in adults is dangerous serious complications. With this form there is a pronounced intoxication, frequent fungal and bacterial infections, fever, mucosal lesions.

How does neutropenia manifest in children?

Newborns and infants are difficult to tolerate the disease, because their immune system is not yet developed enough. Babies suffering from this ailment may experience pneumonia, stomatitis and gingivitis. Spontaneously there is a benign neutropenia, which falls on the first and second year of the child's life.

Often it proceeds asymptomatically without causing discomfort. Heavy or immune agranulocytosis affects older children. It is manifested by severe fever, chills and fever. Difficult to give in to therapy. If untimely treatment, the forecast is unfavorable.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of the disease involves two things:

- Delivery of blood and urine tests. Sometimes a biopsy (a piece of tissue) of the bone marrow and tests for HIV infection are required.

- Visual examination of the patient - palpation of the abdomen and lymph nodes.

Methods of therapy

Often (especially severe forms) is treated in a hospital for neutropenia. What is this state, let's remember. This is an abnormal decrease in white blood cells (leukocytes) in the human body (the immune system weakens, dangerous infections develop). Cure with the disease will help only antibacterial drugs. They are appointed even before the establishment of an exact localization of the focus of the disease. The signal to this is the high temperature.

Sometimes, in order to prevent the reduction of white cells, growth factors stimulating the production of leukocytes are used. If the disease is associated with an autoimmune or allergic reaction, then hormonal drugs are prescribed. If the spleen is enlarged, the doctor may resort to removing it in order to increase the number of neutrophils.

Not always immunosuppressants give a positive therapeutic effect in aplastic anemia. The only way out is bone marrow transplantation. This is a rather complicated operation, requiring a long rehabilitation under the strict supervision of specialists. Of course, it has its pluses and side effects.

How to reduce the risk of the disease?

To prevent the development of a pathological process when taking antiviral drugs, the following rules should be observed:

- do (seasonally) a flu shot;

- less is in places of large concentrations of people;

- monitor the hygiene of the hands and the home;

- eat thermally processed meat, eggs, fish.

Remember that this is a complex process that should be treated only under the supervision of a qualified specialist. It will be necessary to constantly maintain immunity, so as not to aggravate neutropenia (what is it and how to treat the disease, read above).

How to control the disease?

Each time after HTV (antiviral therapy) is carried out, it is necessary to take a blood test to the level of ACN and the number of white blood cells. Today, in medical centers, modern methods are used to calculate data, allowing quick results.