Monocytes are made up of large white blood cells that circulate in the blood. In principle, they intended to destroy viruses and bacteria a level of monocytes is low or high? Update on the subject.
Monocytosis refers to a high level of monocytes, and monocytopenia to a low or low level. They are determined after a complete hematological examination, called “blood count”, or CBC. How to interpret a high, low, or normal level of monocytes? Update on the subject.
Monocytes are one of the three types of white blood cells present in the blood. Like immoglobins, their mission is to fight infections. These leukocytes also alloweliminate aging cells.
Representing nearly 10% of white blood cells, monocytes are distinguished by their large size. On average, they measure between 20 to 35 microns.
When viruses or other infectious agents attack the body, they are urgently released into the blood. In other words, they are responsible for regulating the body’s immunity against the presence of a foreign element. Typically, a monocyte has a lifespan of about 3 days. It is created in the bone marrow and then circulates in the blood.
The normal value of the monocyte count
According to international standards, the level of monocytes is considered to be normal when it is between 0.20 and 0.75 giga per liter. This number represents between 2 to 10% of the total amount of white blood cells circulating in the blood. In an adult, this level is equivalent to the presence of 200 to 750 units of monocytes per milliliter of blood. However, it should be noted that the standards retained may vary according to the techniques and measurements used by the laboratory to determine this rate.
A high level of monocytes indicates that the body fights an infection. This situation can also occur as part of a cancerous or inflammatory process. More than 750 to 1000 units of monocytes are thus present per cubic milliliter of blood.
Rather, we speak of reactive hypermonocytosis when the level of monocytes is abnormally high. This represents 1,500 monocytes detected per mm3 blood, more than 12%.
This increase in the level of monocytes is mainly due to:
- to viral infections, such as infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles…;
- to parasitic infections, such as malaria;
- to inflammatory diseases chronic, such as sarcoidosis;
- To respiratory disease chronic caused by a type of bacteria, such as tuberculosis;
- to one cancerous disease in which the monocytes in the bone marrow start to grow uncontrollably …
In addition, other clinical studies suggest that a higher monocyte level is linked to cardiovascular disease. The sooner the increase in monocytes is detected, the heart health can quickly improve.
It is immediately necessary to note that a low monocyte level does not mean that a person has health problems. And even if the blood contains less than 200 units per milliliter, it is difficult to consider that a blood monocyte level is too low. Indeed, there is no precise minimum rate to delimit this category of white blood cells. The reason is that they are produced on demand, in response to attacks from viruses or bacteria that the body is undergoing. In other words, a healthy person has a low level of monocytes in the blood, which is normal.
Monocytopenia most often results from:
- depletion of the bone marrow in cells producing red and white blood cells, induced by chemotherapy;
- mutation of hematopoietic cells (relating to the liver, spleen, bone marrow);
- disorders such as leukemia or Hodgkin’s lymphoma;
- infections with HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, or miliary tuberculosis;
- the activity of antibodies or immunoglobulins (IGG);
- gastric or intestinal ablation …
It should be noted that a low level of monocytes circulating in the blood does not produce symptoms in patients. This means that the presence of symptoms is associated only with a condition, which may include fatigue and fever.
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