What Are the Different Causes of a Low White Blood Cell Count?

Leukopenia is a disease caused by unknown causes and secondary to other diseases, and is divided into two categories: primary and secondary. The cause of the primary is unknown; the secondary believes that the cause can be acute infection, physical and chemical factors, hematological diseases, diseases with splenomegaly, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, genetic diseases, etc., acquired or Unexplained neutropenia.

Leukopenia

Leukopenia definition and etiology

Definition of Leukopenia

White blood cells are a type of nucleated blood cell. The number of normal human blood cells is 4000-10000 / UL (microliters). The number of white blood cells in the blood varies widely at different times of the day and in different functional states of the body. When the number of microliters exceeds 10,000, it is called leukopenia; when the number of microliters is less than 4,000, it is called leukopenia. Leukopenia occurs when the body has inflammation (ie, inflammation); leukopenia can be hereditary, familial, and acquired. Acquired is the majority. Drugs, radiation, infections, toxins, etc. can all reduce granulocytes. Drug-induced ones are the most common. Avoiding medication is to avoid the reduction of white blood cells caused by the medication. ^[1]

Leukopenia is a group of symptoms caused by a continuous decrease in peripheral white blood cell count. Typical manifestations are dizziness, fatigue, and sore limbs

Leukopenia Softness, loss of appetite, debilitating spirit, and low fever, belong to the category of "labour" in the motherland medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine treats leukopenia with methods of nourishing qi and nourishing blood, nourishing kidney and nourishing essence, and strengthening spleen and stomach.

Causes of Leukopenia

Leukopenia is called when the white blood cell count of the surrounding blood is continuously below 4.0 × 109 / L. Since the components in leukocytes are mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes, especially neutrophils, in most cases, leukopenia is caused by neutropenia. When the neutrophil count is lower than (1.5-1.8) × 109 / L, it is called neutropenia. In general, there are some reasons for low white blood cells; viral infections, typhoid fever, etc., and some are caused by drugs. Such as drugs

Leukopenia The granulocyte reduction caused by the disease should be discontinued immediately, and appropriate whitening drugs such as colony stimulating factor (CsF), lithium carbonate, madder diester, polyclonin, etc. Stop exposure to radiation or other chemical poisons. It is caused by hypersplenism, which is prone to recurrence and severe infection, and can be used for splenectomy.

Its etiology and pathogenesis can be divided into the following three aspects according to cell dynamics:

(1) Impaired leukocyte production, including reduced stem cell proliferation or impaired regeneration.

Excessive destruction of leukocytes, excessive destruction of leukocytes due to infection and immunological factors, and reduction of leukocytes in peripheral blood.

The distribution of granulocytes is abnormal, and due to various reasons, the number of leukocytes in the marginal pool increases, the number of white blood cells in the circulating pool decreases, and leukopenia can also form. Leukopenia patients have few conscious symptoms, often fatigue and dizziness are the most common. In addition, there are also appetite loss, limb weakness, insomnia, dreams of low fever, chills, backache, palpitation, etc., which are often ignored by doctors and patients It is diagnosed as other diseases. At this time, the total number of white blood cells must be checked repeatedly. If it is continuously lower than 4.0 × 109 / hour, it can be diagnosed as leukopenia. Leukopenia: In addition to treating the etiology, the corresponding treatment plan should be selected according to different patients and the pathogenesis. ^[2]

Leukopenia clinical manifestations

The etiology should be analyzed first, and the treatment plan adopted according to different patients and pathogenesis. Western medicine treatment often prevents infection, hormones, vitamin B4,

Leukopenia Squalol, reserpine, aminopeptin, etc. Hematopoietic stimulating factors have been given in severe cases. So far, the efficacy of these leukocyte-raising drugs has been temporary. If the cause is not removed or the cause is unknown, it can only provide temporary relief. Therefore, we generally choose 1-2 leukocyte-raising drugs. That is, observe for 3-4 weeks. If it is not effective, you can switch to another group of drugs. Although hematopoietic stimulating factors and component blood transfusions are effective, they are expensive and effective for a while. This is not a fundamental treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine treats this disease, focusing on overall regulation, so it can basically achieve the goal of cure. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the disease is mostly caused by deficiency of qi and blood, and loss of temper, and damage to liver and kidney in the later stage, leading to kidney yin deficiency and kidney yang deficiency. Or yin and yang deficiency, always based on spleen, stomach, liver and kidney deficiency.

Clinically, the methods of nourishing the spleen and replenishing the kidney, nourishing the qi, nourishing the kidney and promoting blood circulation are used to treat leukocytopenia. Generally, the effect can be seen in 1-2 weeks, and the effect is long-lasting and no adverse effects.

Leukopenia The advantages of reactions and side effects, through clinical and experimental research, some Chinese medicines have a significant effect on raising leukocytes. Such as Codonopsis, Astragalus root, Polygonum cuspidatum, Rubia root, Purple River carp, Mangosteen, Stone reed, Antler cream, Schisandra, etc. The combination of these drugs and TCM syndrome differentiation has a significant effect on leukopenia in treating leukopenia of blood diseases, leukopenia caused by tumor radiotherapy, and leukopenia of various unknown causes. Hematology expert group, in long-term clinical practice, proprietary Chinese medicines, after clinical application, have a good therapeutic effect. ^[2]

The key to the treatment is to remove the disease, so for leukopenia and granulocytopenia of unknown cause, you can take ~ leukocyte-raising drugs such as reserine, shark liver alcohol, lithium carbonate, vitamin B, etc., but for patients with granulocytosis, hospitalization should be Intensive care should be performed immediately in the emergency department. Otherwise, it will be life-threatening. Infection should be controlled aseptically. Infusion of leukocyte components should be treated symptomatically. If necessary, granules or granule-single colony stimulating factor (G-CSFGM-CSF) should be given. Clear, remove the root cause of the treatment; those who cause the drug, stop the drug immediately; those who cause the infection, actively control the infection. Those who are secondary to other diseases actively treat the primary disease. Leukopenia of unknown cause. Those with repeated infections should control the infection in time and pay attention to prevent infection. For those with a long course of disease, insignificant symptoms, insignificant leukopenia, and no obvious suppression of granulocyte production on multiple bone marrow examinations, it is mainly to follow up regularly to relieve ideological concerns and not have to rely too much on drugs.

Most patients have a benign process. Lithium carbonate can stimulate bone marrow granulocyte production. The dosage is 0.6-0.9g / d, which is taken orally in 3 times, and then changed to 0.4g / d after marked effect, and is orally divided into 2 times, which is maintained for 2-4 weeks as a course of treatment. Its side effects include mild heartburn, nausea, and fatigue, which disappear quickly after stopping the drug. But be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Vitamin B4, shark liver alcohol, reserine, DNA and other drugs can also be applied, but the efficacy is not certain. Leukopenia is called when the white blood cell count of the surrounding blood is continuously below 4.0 × 109 / L. Since the components of leukocytes are mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes, especially neutrophils, leukocytopenia is caused by neutropenia in most cases.

When the neutrophil count is lower than (1.5-1.8) × 109 / L, it is called neutropenia. Leukopenia symptom group is a disease caused by unknown causes and secondary to other diseases, which are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. The cause of the primary is unknown; the secondary believes that the cause can be acute infection, physical and chemical factors, hematological diseases, diseases with splenomegaly, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, genetic diseases, etc., acquired or Unexplained neutropenia. Its etiology and pathogenesis can be divided into the following three aspects according to cell dynamics: Leukocyte production disorders, including stem cell proliferation reduction or regeneration disorders. Excessive destruction of leukocytes, excessive destruction of leukocytes due to infection and immunological factors, and reduction of leukocytes in peripheral blood. The distribution of granulocytes is abnormal, and due to various reasons, the number of leukocytes in the marginal pool increases, the number of white blood cells in the circulating pool decreases, and leukopenia can also form.

Leukopenia patients have few conscious symptoms, often fatigue and dizziness are the most common. In addition, there are also appetite loss, limb weakness, insomnia, dreams of low fever, chills, backache, palpitation, etc., which are often ignored by doctors and patients It is diagnosed as other diseases. At this time, the total number of white blood cells must be checked repeatedly. If it is continuously lower than 4.0 × 109 / hour, it can be diagnosed as leukopenia. Leukopenia: In addition to treating the etiology, the corresponding treatment plan should be selected according to different patients and the pathogenesis.

Leukopenia treatment

Leukopenia physiotherapy

TCM physiotherapy

Leucopenia is a common blood disease that can occur at any age. When the number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood is continuously lower than 4 × 109 / L. The disease usually starts slowly and has mild symptoms. It is common for fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, low fever, pharyngitis or mucosal ulcers, loss of appetite, soft limbs, insomnia, dreams of chills, backache, etc., and it is susceptible to viral and bacterial infections such as colds. ; If leukopenia is caused by infection, then see symptoms such as high fever, chills, and sore body. If the total number of white blood cells is significantly reduced, less than 2 × 109 / L, the absolute value of neutrophils is less than 0.5 × 109 / L, and even those who disappear are called agranulocysis. Most of them have sudden onset, chills, high fever, Sore throat, headache, joint pain, extreme fatigue, severe swallowing difficulties, slang or coma, can die within a few days.

Agranulocytosis is a manifestation of the development of leukopenia to a severe stage. The etiology and pathogenesis of the two are basically the same and can be discussed together. Leukopenia can be divided into two types: unexplained and secondary. The former is more common; the latter is mostly caused by chemical factors, physical factors, drugs, and certain diseases; , Severe infections and unknown reasons. Leukopenia and agranulocytosis have a good prognosis in China. If agranulocytosis is not treated promptly, patients with older age or other organ diseases still have a higher mortality rate. Leukopenia does not have the same disease name in Chinese medicine. According to its symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and exogenous fever, it should be attributed to the deficiency of qi and blood in the traditional Chinese medicine; category. Chinese medicine believes that the occurrence of leukopenia is related to the four organs of the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney, and the relationship between the spleen and kidney is particularly close. The deficiency of the spleen and kidney is the root cause of leukocytopenia. "The spleen is the acquired foundation", the source of qi and blood biochemistry, the internal organs of the five organs rely on nourishment. "Kidney is congenital", the main bone is born with marrow, hidden by the essence of the five internal organs and six organs. Spleen deficiency, Yunhua Mizutani's subtle nourishment dysfunction can lead to weak kidney qi; conversely, if the kidney yang is insufficient, you cannot warm the spleen and yang. In addition, heat invasion and blood coagulation are also important causes of this disease. The evil of heat poisoning (radiation and chemotherapy) invades the human body, and the yin is robbed. Most patients show evidence of qi and yin deficiency, and a few have evidence of blood heat; according to the traditional knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine "long-term disease must stasis", patients with leukopenia do not cure for a long time, and often have clinical symptoms of blood stasis. To sum up, the cause is nothing more than internal injuries and external sensations, and the pathogenesis is nothing more than congenital and acquired factors. The key to birth is the kidney, and the key to birth is the spleen. Traditional Chinese medicine promotes leukocyte generation. Due to the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, bone marrow suppression and white blood cell decline can be promoted by ginsenoside rh2 without side effects.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a good effect in treating leukopenia. Acupuncture therapy is used to treat the syndrome under the guidance of the principles of nourishing qi and nourishing blood, nourishing yin and helping yang, and selecting Qiyu, Ointment Yushu, Zusanli, Xuehai, Sanyinjiao, Dazhui, Pishu, Shenshu, Hangzhong. ^[3]

Leukopenia Western Medicine Treatment

1. There are many types of clinical applications of leukocyte-producing drugs, but the efficacy is difficult to determine. Such as vitamin B6, Lixuesheng can be used for a variety of granulocytopenia. Vitamin B4, shark liver alcohol, inosine, deoxynucleotide, Stanozolol and other anti-cancer drugs, radiotherapy or chloramphenicol caused by factors such as leukopenia have better efficacy. While treating the cause, choose one or two of the above medicines, take them for 4-6 weeks, and observe whether it has the effect of raising white blood cells. Do not think that the more medicines, the better, and use several medicines at the same time.

2. Adrenocortical hormone can promote the release of bone marrow cells into the peripheral blood circulation. When granulocytopenia is caused by immune factors, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, it has a better and lasting effect.

Leukopenia diet

Patients with leukopenia should pay attention to the dietary combination. Diets that can increase white blood cells include:

1. Raw materials: 100 grams each of lean pork and mushrooms, with appropriate amount of refined salt.

Method: Wash the lean pork and cut into pieces, wash the mushrooms and cut into pieces, put them into the casserole together, add the right amount of water, cook the soup, and add a small amount of refined salt to taste.

Indications: nourishing yin, moistening dryness, strengthening stomach and nourishing spleen. For leukopenia, chronic hepatitis, etc.

Usage: Serve with a meal.

Second, beef hoof tendon ganoderma soup

Ingredients: 100 grams of beef hoof tendon, 15 grams each of Ganoderma lucidum, Polygonatum sibiricum, and Heterophyllum henryi, 20 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, and appropriate salt.

Method: Wash and slice the beef hoof tendon first, then wash the ganoderma lucidum, Polygonatum sibiricum, blood vine, and astragalus into a cloth bag, put it into the casserole with the beef hoof tendon, add an appropriate amount of water, boil with Wuhuo for 15 minutes, and then simmer with gentle heat About an hour, season with a small amount of refined salt.

Indications: Nourishing and nourishing, strengthening muscles and bones. It is suitable for waist and knee soreness caused by liver deficiency and blood loss, fatigue, loss of white blood cells, limb weakness, and tooth shaking.

Usage: As a snack

Leukopenia Taboo Food and Prevention

Leukopenia taboo

Leukopenia patients are mostly in the category of TCM deficiency syndrome or exhaustion, so the following foods should be avoided:

1. Persimmon: The fruit of the great cold, it is easy to damage the spleen and stomach, and those with reduced white blood cells should not take it.

2. : Sexual cold, broken product and gas consumption products, frail people with reduced white blood cells, avoid eating. Do nt eat too much for those who have lost their white blood cells.

3 Betel nut: the positive result of the gas-breaking injury. Those with weak leukocytopenia should not take it.

4 Mint: a cool product, sparse wind and heat, only diarrhea but not tonic. Therefore, those who are weak, including those with leukopenia, should not eat.

5. Mustard: Its variants include mustard, rutabaga, mustard, mustard, mustard (stalk mustard), snow mustard (leaf mustard), spring mustard (root mustard), folks often regard it as a hair product, which has the disadvantages of gas consumption Therefore, those with weak white blood cells should not eat more.

In addition, people with leukopenia should not eat raw products such as raw radishes, turnips, ground skulls, bitter gourds, kumquats, etc .; also not eat pepper, pepper, cinnamon, dogwood, cardamom, coriander and other spicy Warm and dry irritating food; also not eat raw melon, artemisia annua, banana, crab, mussel meat, field snail and other cold and cold spleen food.

Leukopenia preventive measures

1. People who are in close contact with radiation or benzene (high-risk groups) should be checked regularly.

2. Patients taking medications that may cause granulocytopenia should be followed closely.

3 Patients with chronic leukocytopenia do not need to take medication if the blood is stable during long-term follow-up. For patients with low white blood cell counts and symptoms, 1-2 of the drugs such as Lixuesheng, Shaganol, and Vitamin B4 can be used.

4 For acute onset of granulocytopenia or deficiency, hematology should be sent to the rescue department.

5. Avoid overwork; pay attention to the climate change, increase or decrease the quilt in time, and prevent the onset of external evils.