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Neutropenia - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Neutropenia : (noun)
1: leukopenia in which the decrease is primarily in number of
neutrophils (the chief phagocytic leukocyte)
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Neutropenia : What is neutropenia?
"Neutropenia" is a condition of an abnormally low number of a type of a particular type of white blood cell called a neutrophil. White blood cells
(leukocytes) are the cells in the blood that play important roles in the body's immune by fighting off infection. Because white blood cells can be affected by many diseases, doctors will often check
the "white blood cell count" in evaluating health conditions.
The normal white blood cells are of different types and include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. The average blood concentration (cells per cubic mm) for each type
are: neutrophils (3650); lymphocytes (2500); monocytes (430); eosinophils (150); basophils (30). Neutrophils function by actually killing and eating up microorganisms that invade our bodies.
"Neutropenia" is present when the neutophil count is less than 2000.
What conditions are associated with neutropenia?
Neutropenia can be present (though it is relatively uncommon) in normal healthy individuals, notably in blacks and Yemenite Jews.
Causes of neutropenia from disease can be categorized as resulting from decreased production of white blood cells, destruction of white blood cells after they are produced, or pooling of white blood
cells (accumulation of the white blood cells out of the circulation).
Diseases causing decreased production of white blood cells include drug toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, and medical diseases such as blood diseases, infections (virus diseases, tuberculosis,
typhoid), abnormalities of the bone marrow disorders, or be cyclic (varying in severity week to week, month to month, perhaps related to biorhythms). Destruction of white blood cells can occur as a
result of antibodies attacking the cells (such as in Felty's syndrome) or from drugs stimulating the immune system to attack the cells. Pooling of white blood cells occurs with some overwhelming
infections, heart-lung bypass during heart surgery, and hemodialysis.
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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Neutropenia : Neutropenia: Not enough neutrophils, neutrophils being a type of nucleus (it is called a seg or poly) while the immature neutrophil has band-shape nucleus (it is called a band). The
neutrophil has a lifespan of about 3 days.
Neutropenia may be seen with infection .
Granulocytopenia or, as it is also called, agranulocytosis results in a syndrome of frequent chronic bacterial infections of the skin, lungs, etc. Although "agranulocytosis" literally means no
granulocytes, there may, in fact, be some granulocytes but too few of them, i.e. granulocytopenia. Granulocytopenia can be genetic and inherited or it can be acquired as, for example, an aspect of {
leukemia .
Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are all types of granulocytes. They are named by the staining features of their granules in the laboratory: - Neutrophils have "neutral" subtle
granules;
- Eosinophils have prominent granules that stain readily with the acid dye eosin; and
- Basophils have prominent granules that stain readily basic (nonacidic) dyes.
This classification dates back to a time when certain structures could be identified in cells by histochemistry, but the functions of these intracellular structures were still not yet fathomed.
However, the classification of granulocytes into neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils is still widely used (and quite useful).
Granulocytopenia can therefore more specifically involve neutropenia (shortage of neutrophils), eosinopenia and/or basopenia. The term "neutropenia" is sometimes used interchangeably with
granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis.
Based on University of Miami School of Medicine [Medical_Dictionary]:
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Example Usage of Neutropenia |
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