Neutrophilia
Encyclopedia
Neutrophilia is a condition where a person has a high number of neutrophil granulocyte
s in their blood
.
s that respond to a bacteria
l infection
, so the most common cause of neutrophilia is a bacterial infection, especially pyogenic infections.
Neutrophils are also increased in any acute inflammation
, so will be raised after a heart attack
, other infarct or burn
s.
Some drugs, such as prednisone
, have the same effect as cortisol
, causing marginated neutrophils to enter the blood stream. Nervousness
will very slightly raise the neutrophil count because of this effect.
A neutrophilia might also be the result of a malignancy
. Chronic myelogenous leukemia
(CML or chronic myeloid leukaemia) is a disease where the blood cells proliferate out of control. These cells may be neutrophils. Neutrophilia can also be caused by appendicitis
.
, the site where neutrophils are generated. A severe neutrophilia with left shift is referred to as a leukemoid reaction
. The leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score, which refers to the amount of alkaline phosphatase
per neutrophil, will increase. In a severe infection, toxic granulation changes happen to the neutrophils.
This can resemble Pelger-Huet anomaly
.
Neutrophil granulocyte
Neutrophil granulocytes are the most abundant type of white blood cells in mammals and form an essential part of the innate immune system. They are generally referred to as either neutrophils or polymorphonuclear neutrophils , and are subdivided into segmented neutrophils and banded neutrophils...
s in their blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
.
Causes
Neutrophils are the primary white blood cellWhite blood cell
White blood cells, or leukocytes , are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a...
s that respond to a bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
l infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
, so the most common cause of neutrophilia is a bacterial infection, especially pyogenic infections.
Neutrophils are also increased in any acute inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
, so will be raised after a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, other infarct or burn
Burn
A burn is an injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation, or friction.Burn may also refer to:*Combustion*Burn , type of watercourses so named in Scotland and north-eastern England...
s.
Some drugs, such as prednisone
Prednisone
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...
, have the same effect as cortisol
Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis; suppress the immune system; and aid in fat,...
, causing marginated neutrophils to enter the blood stream. Nervousness
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
will very slightly raise the neutrophil count because of this effect.
A neutrophilia might also be the result of a malignancy
Malignant
Malignancy is the tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively worse and to potentially result in death. Malignancy in cancers is characterized by anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis...
. Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia
Chronic myelogenous leukemia , also known as chronic granulocytic leukemia , is a cancer of the white blood cells. It is a form of leukemia characterized by the increased and unregulated growth of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow and the accumulation of these cells in the blood...
(CML or chronic myeloid leukaemia) is a disease where the blood cells proliferate out of control. These cells may be neutrophils. Neutrophilia can also be caused by appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
.
"Left shift"
A "left shift" refers to the presence of increased proportions of younger, less well differentiated neutrophils and neutrophil-precursor cells in the blood. This generally reflects early or premature release of myeloid cells from the bone marrowBone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
, the site where neutrophils are generated. A severe neutrophilia with left shift is referred to as a leukemoid reaction
Leukemoid reaction
The term leukemoid reaction describes an elevated white blood cell count, or leukocytosis, that is a physiological response to stress or infection .It may be lymphoid or myeloid....
. The leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) score, which refers to the amount of alkaline phosphatase
Alkaline phosphatase
Alkaline phosphatase is a hydrolase enzyme responsible for removing phosphate groups from many types of molecules, including nucleotides, proteins, and alkaloids. The process of removing the phosphate group is called dephosphorylation...
per neutrophil, will increase. In a severe infection, toxic granulation changes happen to the neutrophils.
This can resemble Pelger-Huet anomaly
Pelger-Huet anomaly
Pelger-Huet anomaly is a blood laminopathy associated with the lamin B receptor.It is characterized by a white blood cell type known as a neutrophil whose nucleus is hyposegmented.It is a genetic disorder with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern...
.
See also
- GranulocytosisGranulocytosisIn medicine, granulocytosis is the presence in peripheral blood of an increased number of granulocytes, a category of white blood cells. Often, the word refers to an increased neutrophil granulocyte count, as neutrophils are the main granulocytes.-Causes:...
(often used as synonym) - NeutropeniaNeutropeniaNeutropenia, from Latin prefix neutro- and Greek suffix -πενία , is a granulocyte disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell...
(having too few neutrophils) - Absolute neutrophil countAbsolute neutrophil countAbsolute neutrophil count is a measure of the number of neutrophil granulocytes present in the blood...