Are white blood cell counts high or low in leukemia?
Disease description:
A colleague’s child has been diagnosed with leukemia and has been undergoing treatment in the hospital for some time. In leukemia, are white blood cell counts typically elevated or decreased?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Man
Whether white blood cell (WBC) counts are elevated or decreased in leukemia requires case-specific analysis—there is no universal rule. Leukemia is generally classified as either acute or chronic, and WBC counts vary accordingly. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), WBC counts are typically elevated; similarly, in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), WBC counts are also usually increased. However, in rare cases, WBC counts may even be lower than normal.
