34 - WBC Disorders Flashcards
1
Q
What is neutropenia?
A
An abnormally low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight off infections
2
Q
What is the most common cause of neutropenia?
A
IATROGENIC
We create the neutropenia by using cytotoxic or immunosuppressive therapies
Commonly caused by chemotherapy
3
Q
What is neutrophilia?
A
Describes a high number of neutrophil granulocytes in blood
4
Q
What is the most common cause of neutrophilia?
A
Acute infection
Neutrophil count will go up as well as band cell count (shift to the left)
5
Q
What are some causes of neutropenia?
A
Remember, neutropenia means low neutrophil count
- Hypersplenism
- Chemotherapy
- Post infection
- Immune-mediated disorders
6
Q
When will serum eosinophils be elevated?
A
- Allergies
- Allergic reactions to drugs
- Allergic asthma
- Hay fever (a condition which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air)
- Eczema (allergy)
- Some weird malignancies can cause elevated serum eosinophils
- Collagen vascular diseases
- Helminthic infections
- Infectious diseases
(if you want to listen, this was about 40 min into the first lecture)
