Leukocytosis

Leukocytosis ( WBC λευκός from Ancient Greek "white", ancient Greek κύτος kytos " hollow ", " vessel ", "shell" and the suffix -ose from the ancient Greek - σις - sis for a task ) denotes an increase of leukocytes (white blood cells ) in the blood. The person usually has about 4400-11300 leukocytes per microliter of blood. If this value is exceeded, it is called leukocytosis, with leukocyte counts over 100.000/μl also with hyperleukocytosis. A decrease in white blood cell count is called leukopenia.

Can be clarified by means of the differential blood count, which cell type is responsible for the proliferation of leukocytes. Often there is a proliferation of neutrophils ( neutrophilia ) or lymphocytes ( lymphocytosis ), but the remaining white blood cells can be affected by such a cell number increase his ( basophilia, eosinophilia, monocytosis ).

Causes

The leukocytosis is used in most infectious processes associated with acute inflammation, such as appendicitis ( " appendicitis " ) and cholecystitis ( gallbladder inflammation ), above. Also, it may be an indication of an incipient leukemia.

Even the ( inhalational ) Smoking often leads to a mild leukocytosis ( 13,000 leukocytes per microliter to about blood).

• Blood count