What is the clinical significance of neutrophilia?
Jun 10, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Heyang
Introduction
Neutrophils are an important type of white blood cell primarily responsible for fighting infections and mediating inflammatory responses. When the body is exposed to infection or other stimuli, neutrophil counts increase to combat pathogens or repair tissue damage. An elevated neutrophil count clinically usually indicates the presence of infection, inflammation, or bone marrow disorders.
Neutrophils are a type of important white blood cell primarily responsible for fighting infections and mediating inflammatory responses. When the body is exposed to infection or other stimuli, neutrophil counts increase to combat pathogens or repair tissue damage. An elevated neutrophil count generally indicates the presence of infection, inflammation, or bone marrow disorders. Specific causes include the following:
1. Infection: Increased neutrophil count is a common sign of infection. When the body is invaded by pathogens, neutrophils rapidly increase in number to fight off the invading organisms.
2. Inflammation: Neutrophils play a key role in inflammatory responses. During inflammation, neutrophil counts rise to counteract tissue damage caused by the inflammatory process.
3. Bone marrow disorders: Certain bone marrow diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia, may lead to increased neutrophil counts.
In addition, neutrophilia can also be triggered by stress, excessive physical exercise, or the use of certain medications. It is important to note that when evaluating neutrophil levels, clinicians should integrate other clinical symptoms and laboratory findings for a comprehensive assessment to determine the specific cause and clinical significance of the elevated neutrophil count.
