The terms leukopenia and neutropenia are often used interchangeably. However, they refer to slightly different conditions. Leukopenia is an umbrella term that refers to a reducation in any of the white blood cell types. Neutropenia is a type of leukopenia but refers specifically to a decrease in neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell. A person’s neutrophil count is an important indicator of their infection risk.

1. LEUKOPENIA
PRESENTED BY
R.PRIYA

2. INTRODUCTION
Blood is made up different types of blood cells, including white blood cells, or leukocytes.
White blood cells are an important part of your immune system, helping your body to fight
off diseases and infections. If you have too few wLeukopenia, abnormally low number of
white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood circulation, defined as less than 5,000
leukocytes per cubic millimetre of blood. Leukopenia often accompanies certain infections,
especially those caused by viruses or protozoans.White blood cells, you have a condition
known as leukopenia.

3. DEFINITION
A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) is a decrease in disease-fighting cells
(leukocytes) in your blood. Leukopenia is almost always related to a decrease in
a certain type of white blood cell (neutrophil).
A healthy white blood cell count is between 3,500 and 11,000 white blood
cells per microliter. A person with leukopenia may have fewer than 3,500
white blood cells per microliter

4. CAUSES
Blood cell or bone marrow conditions
These include:
•aplastic anemia
•hypersplenism, or overactive spleen
•myelodysplastic syndromes
•myeloproliferative syndrome
•myelofibrosis
Cancer and treatments for cancer
Different types of cancer, including leukemia, can lead to leukopenia. Cancer
treatments can also cause leukopenia, including:
•chemotherapy
•radiation therapy (especially when used on large bones, such as those in your legs
and pelvis)
•bone marrow transplant
Congenital problems
Congenital disorders are present at birth. Congenital problems that can lead to leukopenia include conditions
that affect how bone marrow works to make blood cells, such as:
•Kostmann syndrome, or severe congenital neutropenia
•myelokathexis

5. CAUSES
Autoimmune disorders
Autoimmune disorders that kill white blood cells or bone marrow cells, which make blood
cells, can also lead to leukopenia. These include:
•lupus
•rheumatoid arthritis
Malnutrition
Leukopenia can be caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies, such as deficiencies in:
•vitamin B-12
•folate
•copper
•zinc
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases that can cause leukopenia include:
•HIV or AIDS
•tuberculosis

6. CAUSES
Medications
Medications that can cause leukopenia include:
•bupropion (Wellbutrin)
•clozapine (Clozaril)
•cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
•interferons
•lamotrigine (Lamictal)
•minocycline (Minocin)
•mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
•penicillin
•sirolimus (Rapamune)
•sodium valproate
•steroids
•tacrolimus (Prograf)
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a systemic illness caused by an exaggerated immune response and characterized by formation of granulomas, or small areas
of inflammation, in multiple systems in your body. When these granulomas form in your bone marrow, leukopenia can result.
Viral infections
Viral infections that affect the bone marrow or other severe infections can also lead to leukopenia.

7. TYPES
blood is low in neutrophils, you have a type of leukopenia known as neutropenia.
Neutrophils are the white blood cells that protect you from fungal and bacterial
infections. Leukopenia is so often caused from a decrease in neutrophils that
some people use the terms “leukopenia” and “neutropenia” interchangeably.
Another common type of leukopenia is lymphocytopenia, which is when you have
too few lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that protect you from
viral infections

8. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

9. SIGNS SYMPTOMS
•fever higher than 100.5˚F (38˚C)
•chills
•sweating

10. DIAGNOSTIC EVAUATION
Complete blood count

11. MANAGEMENT
Cancer treatments may affect a person’s white blood cell count, leading to leukopenia. Examples that may have this effect include:
•chemotherapy
•radiation therapy
•bone marrow transplant
Certain medications can also affect the number of white blood cells in someone’s blood and may lead to leukopenia. Medications that can have this
effect include:
•interferons to treat multiple sclerosis
•lamotrigine and sodium valproate for epilepsy and as mood stabilizers
•bupropion, an antidepressant and smoking cessation medication
•clozapine, an antipsychotic medication
•minocycline, a common antibiotic
•immunosuppressants, such as sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and cyclosporine
•steroids
•penicillin
•eating a healthful diet immunocompromised diet, also called a low-bacterial diet or neutropenic diet, may be
recommended if white blood cells are very low. This diet is thought to reduce your chances of getting germs from
food or because of the way food is prepared.
•getting plenty of rest
•avoiding cuts and scrapes
•practicing good hygiene to avoid germs