Stage One: 2020/2019: Leukopenia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

University of Basrah
A-Zahraa College of Medicine
Leukopenia: Symptoms, Causes, and

Treatment
‫ عباس مش تاق عيل عبد‬:‫أعداد الطالب‬

‫ أمحد السامك‬.‫ د‬:‫املرشف‬
Stage One: 2020/2019
Page 1
I chose this topic based on several things:
1) It's a topic that strongly interests me
2) It's Creative
3) It is not too broad
Overview
The blood is made up different types of the cells, including white blood cells,
or leukocytes. White blood cells are an important part of immune system,
helping the body to fight off diseases and infections. If you have too few white
blood cells, you have a condition known as leukopenia.
There are several different types of leukopenia, depending on which type of
white blood cell blood is low in:
❖ Basophils
❖ Eosinophils
❖ Lymphocytes
❖ Monocytes
❖ Neutrophils
Each type protects body from different kinds of infections.
Symptoms of leukopenia
There are no specific symptoms of having a low white blood cell count.
however, when someone has leukopenia, they are more likely to get
infections. the symptoms of infection include:
• Fever more than (38˚C)
• Sweating
• Chills
Causes of leukopenia
There are several medical conditions that cause leukopenia by interfering
with the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Other conditions cause leukopenia by destroying white blood cells rather than
affecting their production. Leukopenia may also be the result of some
treatments and medications.
The following conditions may cause leukopenia:
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1- Viral infections: Acute viral infections, such as colds and influenza may
lead to temporary leukopenia. In the short term, a viral infection may disrupt
the production of white blood cells in a person’s bone marrow.
If a person’s body is fighting off infection, this may affect their white blood
cell count. They may have slightly fewer white blood cells circulating in their
bloodstream. This condition is called pseudoleukopenia.
Pseudoleukopenia is the stage before leukopenia. If a person’s white blood cells

continue to decrease, they may go on to develop leukopenia.
2- Blood cell and bone marrow conditions: These can lead to leukopenia.
Examples include aplastic anemia, overactive spleen, and myelodysplastic
syndromes.
3- Cancer: Leukemia and other cancers may damage the bone marrow and
lead to leukopenia.
4- Infectious diseases: Examples include HIV, and tuberculosis. According

to a 2015 study, women with tuberculosis are more likely to develop
leukopenia than men.
5- Autoimmune disorders: Some of these kill white blood cells. Examples

include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
6- Birth disorders: Also known as congenital disorders, these may lead to

leukopenia. Examples include Kostmann syndrome and myelokathexis.
7- Malnutrition: Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies may lead to

leukopenia. Examples include deficiencies in vitamin B-12 folate, copper, and
zinc.
8- Sarcoidosis: This is an overreaction of the immune system that leads to

small areas of inflammation in the body. It can also affect bone marrow.
9- Treatments and medications that may cause leukopenia:

❖ Cancer treatments may affect a person’s white blood cell count, leading
to leukopenia. Examples that may have this effect include:
✓ Chemotherapy
✓ Radiation therapy
✓ Bone marrow transplant
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❖ Certain medications can also affect the number of white blood cells in
someone’s blood and may lead to leukopenia. Medications that can have
this effect include:
1) Interferons to treat multiple sclerosis
2) Lamotrigine and sodium valproate for epilepsy and as mood
stabilizers
3) Bupropion, an antidepressant and smoking cessation medication
4) Clozapine, an antipsychotic medication
5) Minocycline, a common antibiotic
6) Immunosuppressants, such as sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil,
tacrolimus, and cyclosporine
7) Steroids
8) Penicillin
Treatment
For leukopenia depends on which type of white blood cell is low and what’s
causing it. You may need other treatments to take care of any infections that
develop from not having enough white blood cells. Common treatments
include:
1- Medications can be used to stimulate the body
to make more blood cells. Or may be
prescribed medications to clear up the cause
of the reduced cell count, such as antifungals
to treat fungal infections or antibiotics to treat
bacterial infections.
2- Stopping treatments that cause leukopenia Sometimes we need to stop a
treatment like chemotherapy to give the body time to make more blood
cells. blood cell counts may naturally rise when treatment like radiation
is over or between chemotherapy sessions. the amount of time it takes
for white blood cells to replenish varies from person to person.
3- Growth factors granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and other growth

factors derived from bone marrow can help if the cause of your
leukopenia is genetic or caused by chemotherapy. These growth factors
are proteins that stimulate your body to produce white blood cells.
4- The following home treatments and behaviors may help a person with
leukopenia improve their condition and reduce their risk of infection:
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o Eating a healthful diet
o Getting plenty of rest
o Avoiding cuts and scrapes
o Practicing good hygiene to avoid germs
REFERENCES
1. https://www.healthline.com/health/leukopenia#prevention
2. https://convenientmd.com/antibiotics-what-you-need-to-know/
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320299
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University of Basrah

A-Zahraa College of Medicine

Leukopenia: Symptoms, Causes, and

‫ عباس مش تاق عيل عبد‬:‫أعداد الطالب‬

Stage One: 2020/2019

The following conditions may cause leukopenia:

Pseudoleukopenia is the stage before leukopenia. If a person’s white blood cells

4- Infectious diseases: Examples include HIV, and tuberculosis. According

5- Autoimmune disorders: Some of these kill white blood cells. Examples

6- Birth disorders: Also known as congenital disorders, these may lead to

7- Malnutrition: Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies may lead to

8- Sarcoidosis: This is an overreaction of the immune system that leads to

9- Treatments and medications that may cause leukopenia:

3- Growth factors granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and other growth

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