Common Health Topics. Types of lymphocytes. Causes of acute lymphocytopenia Causes of chronic lymphocytopenia. White Blood Cell Disorders. Test your knowledge. Neutropenia is the term for an abnormally low number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell in the blood. Which of the following is often the first indication that a person has neutropenia? More Content. Click here for the Professional Version.
People may have no symptoms, or they may have fever and other symptoms of an infection. Some people are given gamma globulin, and some benefit from stem cell transplantation. There are three types of lymphocytes:. B lymphocytes B cells. Acute: Occurring briefly during certain conditions and then usually resolving. Chronic: Occurring for a longer period because of long-lasting disorders.
Did You Know AIDS and undernutrition are the most common causes of chronic lymphocytopenia. The number of lymphocytes can temporarily decrease during. Use of corticosteroids such as prednisone. The number of lymphocytes can remain low for a long time when people have. NK cells respond quickly to several foreign substances and are specialized in killing cancer cells and virus-infected cells.
There are different types of B cells and T cells that have specific roles in the body and the immune system. Memory B cells circulate in the body to start a fast antibody response when they find a foreign substance. They remain in the body for decades and become memory cells, which remember previously found antigens and help the immune system respond faster to future attacks.
Regulatory B cells or Bregs make up around 0. Although few in number, they have a vital role to play. Bregs have protective anti-inflammatory effects in the body and stop lymphocytes that cause inflammation.
They also interact with several other immune cells and promote the production of regulatory T cells or Tregs. Killer or cytotoxic T cells scan the surface of cells in the body to see if they have become infected with germs, or if they have turned cancerous.
If so, they kill these cells. There are different types of helper T cells, and some are more effective than others against different types of germs. For instance, a Th1 cell is more effective against germs that cause infection inside other cells, such as bacteria and viruses, while a Th2 cell is more effective against germs that cause infection outside of cells, such as certain bacteria and parasites.
Tregs control or suppress other cells in the immune system. They have both helpful and harmful effects. They maintain tolerance to germs, prevent autoimmune diseases, and limit inflammatory diseases. But they can also suppress the immune system from doing its job against certain antigens and tumors. Memory T cells protect the body against previously found antigens.
They live for a long time after an infection is over, helping the immune system to remember previous infections. If the same germ enters the body a second time, memory T cells remember it and quickly multiply, helping the body to fight it more quickly. Natural killer T cells are a mixed group of T cells that share characteristics of both T cells and natural killer cells.
The test can help diagnose the underlying cause of lymphocytopenia. Some underlying conditions cause low levels of T cells. Others may cause low levels of B cells or natural killer cells.
Many diseases and conditions can cause lymphocytopenia. Your doctor will want to find the cause of the disorder. Tests for these underlying conditions might include blood tests , bone marrow tests , and lymph node tests.
Lymph nodes are part of the immune system. They're found in many places in your body. During a physical exam, your doctor may find that certain lymph nodes are swollen. In lymphocytopenia, the lymph nodes may hold on to too many lymphocytes instead of releasing them into the bloodstream.
To test a lymph node, you may need to have it removed. Removing a lymph node involves minor surgery. If you have mild lymphocytopenia with no underlying cause, you may not need treatment. The disorder may improve on its own. If you have a disease or condition that's causing lymphocytopenia, your doctor will prescribe treatment for that illness.
Treating the underlying problem will help treat the lymphocytopenia. A low lymphocyte count makes it hard for your body to fight infections. You may get infections caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, or bacteria. Treatment for an infection will depend on its cause. You also may need treatment after an infection is gone to help prevent repeat infections.
Children who have serious, ongoing bacterial infections may get a medicine called immune globulin. This medicine helps boost the immune system and fight infections.
Examples include infectious diseases, such as AIDS; blood diseases, such as aplastic anemia ; and inherited diseases, such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Researchers are looking at ways to increase lymphocyte production in people who have lymphocytopenia with serious underlying conditions. For example, some studies are looking into blood and marrow stem cell transplants.
This procedure may help treat or cure some of the conditions that can cause a low lymphocyte count. Other studies are looking at medicines and other substances that can help the body make more lymphocytes.
You can't prevent lymphocytopenia that's caused by an inherited condition. However, you can take steps to control lymphocytopenia.
Follow your treatment plan and take all medicines as your doctor advises. Early diagnosis also can help control lymphocytopenia. In the United States, newborns are routinely screened for an immune condition that can lead to lymphocytopenia.
This allows doctors to diagnose the disorder before serious problems develop. You may be able to lower your risk for acquired conditions that cause lymphocytopenia. For more information about acquired causes of the disorder, go to "What Causes Lymphocytopenia? If an underlying condition is causing your lymphocytopenia, you'll need treatment for that condition. You'll also need treatment for infections if your body is unable to fight them because of lymphocytopenia.
If you have the disorder, you may get treatments to prevent infections or to treat infections you already have. Know the signs of an infection, such as a fever. Call your doctor right away if you think you have an infection. Request Appointment. Symptoms Lymphocytosis. Sections Basics Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Products and services.
Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Bain BJ, et al. Approach to the diagnosis and classification of blood cell disorders.
In: Dacie and Lewis Practical Haematology.
0コメント