White Cells Disorders
Dr. Mehzabin Ahmed
Classification
Disorders of white blood cells can be classified into two broad categories:
Leukocytosis (Proliferative disorders)- in which there is an increase in numbers of leukocytes
Leukopenia - in which there is a decreased number of leukocytes
Proliferations of white cells can be reactive or neoplastic.
White Blood Cell Count WBC = 4-10,000/mm3 (normal)
Leukopenia
This is a reduction in the number of Total WBCs less than normal in the peripheral blood
Leukopenia could be due to Neutropenia, Lymphopenia or both
Neutropenia
reduction in number of neutrophils below normal
It may be due to:
Reduced production of neutrophils
Accelerated removal of neutrophils from the circulating blood
Altered distribution of Neutrophils (Drugs, stress)
A fall in neutrophil counts below 500/mL is called Agranulocytosis
1-Decreased Production
Suppression of myeloid stem cells, as occurs in:
Aplastic anaemia
Infiltrative marrow disorders (tumors, granulomatous disease, etc.)
Exposure to certain drugs ( Cytotoxic drugs, chemotherapy)
Ineffective granulopoiesis in disease states such as:
Megaloblastic anaemias due to vitamin B12 or Folate deficiency and where defective precursors are susceptible to death in the marrow
Myelodysplastic syndromes.
Pure WBC aplasia
2-Accelerated removal or destruction of Neutrophils
Immunologically mediated injury to neutrophils Associated with immunologic disorders, eg/ SLE, Feltys syndrome
Hypersplenism: in which excessive destruction occurs secondary to enlargement of the spleen, usually associated with increased destruction of red cells and platelets as well.
Increased peripheral utilization -as may occur in overwhelming bacterial, fungal, or rickettsial infections
Drug induced
Complement mediated destruction-Hemodialysis -Cardiopulmonary bypass
Lymphopenia Lymphopenia is a reduction in the Lymphocyte count below normal Causes
Primary Lymphopenia:
Primary immunodeficiency diseases
Eg: Severe combined immunodeficiency
Secondary Lymphopenia: many causes
Infections: Influenza, Miliary Tb, Malaria, HIV
Loss of Lymphocytes: Whipples disease, severe Right side Heart failure, Lymphatic fistula
Drugs: Radiotherapy, Corticosteroids, Cytotoxic drugs
Neoplastic conditions: Metastatic CA, advanced Hodgkin’s disease
Nutritional/Metabolic: B12/ Folate deficiency, Uremia
Others: SLE, Aplastic anemia, Graft v Host disease, Sarcoidosis,
Neutrophilic Leucocytosis Neutrophilia is the increase in the Neutrophil count above 7.5×109 Causes of Neutrophilia 1-Bacterial infections: Pyogenic infections 2-Inflammation and Tissue necrosis: cardiac infarction, trauma, vasculitis 3-Metabolic disorders: uremia, eclampsia, acidosis, gout 4-Neoplasms: CA, Lymphoma, Melanoma 5-Acute hemorrhage or hemolysis 6-Corticosteroid therapy (inhibits margination) 7-Myeloproliferative diseases: CML, PRV 8-Treatment with myeloid growth factors: G-CSF, GM-CSF
White Blood Cells ●
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Leucocytosis - WBC count ●
Granulocytosis
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Lymphocytosis
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Monocytosis
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Eosinophilia,
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Basophilia
Leukopenia - WBC count ●
Neutropenia,
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Lymphopenia
Agranulocytosis -
500 mm3
Granulocytosis (Neutrophilia)
Neutrophilia may be accompanied by fever due to the release of Leukocyte pyrogens
Reactive Neutrophilia
Characteristic features of Reactive Neutrophilia
Shift to the left in the peripheral blood differential WBC count (increase in the number of band forms, myelocytes, metamyelocytes)
Reactive changes in neutrophils
Toxic granulations
Dohle Bodies
1.Toxic granulations- coarse dark cytoplasmic granules 2. Dohle Bodies- blue cytoplasmic patches of dilated endoplasmic reticulum (arrow)
Activated neutrophils show increased alkaline phosphatase activity and give rise to Increased NAP scores
Lymphocytosis - causes ●
Most often viral infection
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Chronic inflammation
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Marked lymphocytosis with activated lymphocytes – seen in infectious mononucleosis (EBV)
Lymphocytes - Normal
Lymphocytosis
Monocytosis Causes of Monocytosis include: ●
Chronic bacterial infections -bacterial endocarditis, malaria, Tb, Typhoid
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Chronic inflammation- Collagen vascular diseases, SLE, RA, ulcerative colitis, Sarcoidosis
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Malignant- AML, CA, MDS, Hodgkins disease
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Others- post splenectomy, chronic neutropaenia
Eosinophilia Causes of Eosinophilia include: ●
Allergic disorders: hay fever, Bronchial asthma, urticaria, food hypersensitivity
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Skin disease: Psoriasis, Pemphigus
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Parasitic infestations: Amoebiasis, Ascariasis, Hookworm, Filariasis
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Pulmonary eosinophilia and the Hypereosinophilic syndrome
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Drug sensitivity
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Hodgkins disease
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Metastatic malignancy with tumor necrosis
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Eosinophilic leukaemia
Basophilia ●
Basophilia occurs in Myeloproliferative disorders (CML)
Leukaemoid Reaction This is a reactive and excessive leucocytosis, characterized by: WBC counts up to 15 - 100,000/mm3 Shift to the left (immature WBCs) Signs of activation Dohle bodies, toxic granulations (Differs the condition from CML) NAP scores high (Differs the condition from CML) MPO negative (Myeloperoxidase) - reverse of CML Underlying disease: Severe or chronic infections Severe haemolysis Metastatic CA Leukamoid reactions are particularly marked in children
Leukaemoid Reaction
LAP +ve
MPO +ve in CML
“Shift to the Left”
Malignancies of the leukocytes
LEUKAEMIA
it is the malignant proliferation of the WBC, with the presence of the immature forms in the peripheral circulation
MYELOMA
it is the malignant proliferation of the plasma cells, the immunoglobulin producing cells.
LEUKEMIA
Definition
Leukemia is a type of cancer. It is the cancer of the blood cells.
Leukemia When leukemia develops, the body produces large numbers of abnormal blood cells. In most types of leukemia, the abnormal cells are white blood cells. The leukemia cells usually look different from normal blood cells, and they do not function properly.
Causes of leukemia
Leukemia occurs more often in males than in females and
In white people more often than in black people.
Certain risk factors increase a person's chance of developing leukemia. For example,
Exposure to large amounts of high-energy radiation.
Exposure to electromagnetic fields is a possible risk factor (Electromagnetic fields are a type of low-energy radiation that comes from power lines and electric appliances.)
Certain genetic conditions can increase the risk for leukemia. One such condition is Down's syndrome. Children born with this syndrome are more likely to get leukemia than other children.
Workers exposed to certain chemicals over a long period of time. Benzene is one of these chemicals.
Anti cancer drugs
Types of leukemia
There are several types of leukemia.
They are grouped in two ways.
Acute vs Chronic
Lymphoid vs Myeloid
ACUTE & CHRONIC
Based on how quickly the disease develops and gets worse
In acute leukemia,
the abnormal blood cells are blasts that remain very immature
cannot carry out their normal functions.
The number of blasts increases rapidly, and
the disease becomes worse quickly.
In chronic leukemia,
some blast cells are present, but in general, these cells are more mature
can carry out some of their normal functions.
the number of blasts increases less rapidly than in acute leukemia, thus
chronic leukemia worsens gradually.
LYMPHOID & MYELOID
Based on the type of blood cell that is affected. lymphoid cells, - lymphocytic leukemia. myeloid cells - myeloid or myelogenous leukemia. These are the most common types of leukemia: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of leukemia in young children. This disease also affects adults, especially those age 65 and older. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurs in both adults and children. This type of leukemia is sometimes called acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) most often affects adults over the age of 55. It sometimes occurs in younger adults, but it almost never affects children. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) occurs mainly in adults. A very small number of children also develop this disease.
Symptoms of leukemia
Infections and fevers as leukemia cells are abnormal cells that cannot help the body fight infections.
People with leukemia often have anemia and there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. The patients look pale and feel weak and tired.
A decreased count of platelets (thrombocytopenia), causes the patients to bleed and bruise easily.
In acute leukemia, symptoms appear and worsen quickly.
In chronic leukemia, symptoms may not appear for a long time. When symptoms do appear, they generally are mild at first and get worse gradually.
Symptoms of leukemia (contd)
These are some of the common symptoms of leukemia:
Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms;
Frequent infections;
Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen;
Weakness and fatigue;
Loss of appetite and/or weight;
Easy bleeding or bruising;
Tiny red spots (called petechiae) under the skin;
Swollen or bleeding gums;
Sweating, especially at night; and/or
Bone or joint pain.
In acute leukemia
The abnormal cells can collect in the brain or spinal cord (also called the central nervous system or CNS).
headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, and seizures.
Leukemia cells also can collect in the testicles and cause swelling.
Some patients develop sores in the eyes or on the skin.
Leukemia also can affect the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, or other parts of the body.
In chronic leukemia
The abnormal blood cells may gradually collect in various parts of the body.
Chronic leukemia can affect the skin, central nervous system, digestive tract, kidneys, and testicles.
WBC Disorders At the end of the lesson on WBC Disorders, the student should be able to: Define terms – Leucocytosis, Leucopenia, leukemia, myeloma. Enumerate the common causes of neutrophilia, eosinophilia & lymphocytosis. Classify leukemia. List the clinical manifestation of acute leukemia