From the Research
Causes of Leukopenia
The causes of leukopenia can be varied and complex. Some of the possible causes include:
- Infection, which can lead to increased utilization and destruction of white blood cells 1
- Drugs, which can suppress the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow 1
- Malignancy, which can infiltrate the bone marrow and disrupt the production of white blood cells 1
- Megaloblastosis, a condition characterized by the presence of large, immature red blood cells in the bone marrow 1
- Hypersplenism, a condition in which the spleen is overactive and destroys too many white blood cells 1
- Immunoneutropenia, a condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys white blood cells 1
- Congenital myelopathy, a rare genetic disorder that affects the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow 2
- Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a genetic disorder that can cause episodic and self-limited leukopenia 3
- Impaired proliferation and maturation of myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow, which can lead to intrinsic chronic neutropenia 4
Classification of Neutropenia
Neutropenia can be classified as:
- Transient or chronic 4
- Extrinsic or intrinsic 4 Extrinsic causes of neutropenia can include factors such as infection, drugs, and malignancy, while intrinsic causes can include impaired proliferation and maturation of myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow.
Diagnostic Approach
When diagnosing leukopenia, it is essential to:
- Check previous blood counts to understand the dynamic development of the leukopenia 5
- Check the red blood cell count and platelet count to rule out bi- or pancytopenia, which can imply insufficient production in the bone marrow 5
- Perform a manual counted peripheral blood smear to provide information on potential causes such as dysplasia 5
- Assess the severity of the neutropenia and the clinical status of the patient to guide treatment 4