What does it mean to have a high white blood cell count?
Disease description:
Recently, my workplace organized a physical examination, and during the blood test, it was found that my white blood cell count was elevated. Could you please explain what causes an elevated white blood cell count?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Qi Zhirong
White blood cells (WBCs), commonly referred to simply as “white cells,” are a key component of the immune system. A marked increase in WBC count may indicate hematologic disorders, such as acute or chronic leukemia. In particular, patients with chronic leukemia often exhibit markedly elevated WBC counts: if the increase is predominantly due to neutrophils, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is likely; if lymphocytosis is the primary feature, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is more probable. Additionally, a mild elevation in WBC count may also occur in infectious diseases—especially bacterial infections.
