Blood Disorders White Blood Cell Disorders An Overview of White Blood Cell Disorders By Amber Yates, MD twitter linkedin Amber Yates, MD, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist and a practicing physician at Baylor College of Medicine. Learn about our editorial process Amber Yates, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD on July 26, 2020 linkedin Douglas A. Nelson, MD, is double board-certified in medical oncology and hematology. He was a physician in the US Air Force and now practices at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is an associate professor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Douglas A. Nelson, MD Updated on July 26, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment White blood cell disorders are indicated when the body has too many or too few white blood cells (WBCs or leukocytes)—one of the four components of your blood. These cells, manufactured in the bone marrow, are involved in inflammatory responses and play an important role in your immune system's ability to fight infections. Some white blood cell disorders (such as autoimmune neutropenia) are benign, while others (such as leukemia) are malignant. These conditions can affect both adults and children. While a high WBC count is concerning, it can occur when a disease, infection, or inflammation is present in the body and—on its own—may not indicate a white blood cell disorder. Your doctor will likely perform additional testing to determine the cause of your abnormal WBC levels. Verywell / Laura Porter WBC Disorder Symptoms Symptoms of white blood cell disorders vary based on the type of illness, though some people do not have any symptoms at all. Symptoms, when they occur, are predominantly related to infection and include: Frequent or recurrent infectionsFeverMouth ulcersSkin abscessesPneumoniaFatigueMalaiseUnexplained weight loss The 5 Major Types of WBCs These are the major types of white blood cells in humans:Neutrophils: Predominantly fight bacterial infectionsLymphocytes: Immune system cells whose functions include producing antibodies and fighting invaders including bacteria, viruses, and cancerous cellsMonocytes: Function to clean up dead cells and debris and work with lymphocytes to recognize invadersEosinophils: Predominantly fight parasitic infections and are involved in allergic reactionsBasophils: Are involved in inflammatory reactions Types and Functions of White Blood Cells Causes WBC disorders fall under two major categories—proliferative disorders, meaning an increase in WBCs, and leukopenias, which involve a decrease in WBCs. These can occur when there is a change in white blood cell production, a problem with cellular function, or another issue with a particular type of white blood cell. The driving reason behind these events can differ depending on the disorder. Common white blood cell disorders and their causes include: Leukocytosis: This is an increased number of white blood cells. Possible causes include bacterial or viral infections, certain medications, allergies, smoking, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, a genetic condition, and cancer.Leukemia: This is a cancer of the cells that produce white blood cells in the bone marrow. Possible causes include genetic predisposition, smoking, and chemical or radiation exposure.Autoimmune neutropenia: This is seen when the body produces antibodies that attack and destroy neutrophils. It is associated with various conditions, including Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.Severe congenital neutropenia: This occurs secondary to a genetic mutation. People with severe congenital neutropenia have recurrent bacterial infections.Cyclic neutropenia: This is also due to a genetic mutation. The neutropenia occurs in cycles of about 21 days.Chronic granulomatous disease: This is a disorder where multiple types of WBCs (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages) are unable to function properly. It is an inherited condition and results in multiple infections, particularly pneumonia and abscesses.Leukocyte adhesion deficiencies (LAD syndromes): These are rare genetic disorders where the white blood cells are unable to move to areas of infection. Disorders involving too many of one type of WBC are indicated by the suffix -philia, while those related to too few WBCs end in -penia. Diagnosis As with other blood disorders, the first test commonly performed is a complete blood count (CBC). This may be specifically ordered because you are having recurrent or unusual infections and your doctor suspects a white blood cell disorder. But since a CBC is also done as part of an annual physical, the test may incidentally detect such a condition. In reviewing results, your healthcare provider will be looking for a change in either your total WBC count or in the number of a particular type of WBC. Your results will be compared to the appropriate reference range for WBC counts. These can vary from lab to lab, but on average are as follows: Men: 5,000 to 10,000 WBC per microliter of bloodWomen: 4,500 to 11,000 WBC per microliter of bloodChildren (from infancy to adolescence): 5,000 to 10,000 WBC per microliter of bloodNewborns (under 2 weeks of age): 9,000 to 30,000 WBC per microliter of blood Note: Blacks have lower baseline WBC counts than Whites. Why a Normal WBC Count Varies If your results are above or below normal, your physician will then work on determining why. Sometimes the cause is temporary, like an elevation in the WBC count during an active infection. In these circumstances, the CBC is often repeated to ensure that things have returned to normal. Your physician may also request a blood smear—a test where a small amount of blood is placed on a glass slide so lab professionals can examine your blood cells under a microscope to look for abnormalities that might point to a disorder (and its cause). If you require further evaluation, your primary care provider may refer you to a specialist. WBC disorders are usually treated by hematologists who specialize in blood disorders or immunologists who specialize in disorders of the immune system. Since white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, a bone marrow biopsy might be needed to complete the workup. Treatment Treatment of WBC disorders depends largely on the type of disorder and any underlying causes. People with WBC disorders need to be monitored regularly to ensure their treatment regimen is working. Possible treatments include: Antibiotics: Used to treat and prevent related infectionsColony-stimulating factors (CSF) or growth factors: Medications that can stimulate white blood cell production in the bone marrowStem cell transplantation: Can be used for curative therapy in some cases White blood cell transfusions are rarely used as research does not show that they lower the risk of death or infection in people with WBC disorders. A Word From Verywell There is a wide range of WBC disorders, and the impact one can have on your life will depend on your individual diagnosis. Many of these issues are chronic health concerns, and living well with them means working closely with your healthcare team to manage your condition. Fatigue can be a common concern for people with WBC disorders, so listen to your body and rest when you need to. It is also helpful to practice prevention strategies to avoid contracting contagious illnesses, such as influenza and other colds and viruses. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Merck Manuals. Consumer Version. Overview of white blood cell disorders. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. WBC count. George TI. Malignant or benign leukocytosis. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2012;2012:475-84. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2012.1.475 Riley LK, Rupert J. Evaluation of patients with leukocytosis. Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(11):1004-11. Lim EM, Cembrowski G, Cembrowski M, Clarke G. Race-specific WBC and neutrophil count reference intervals. Int J Lab Hematol. 2010;32(6 Pt 2):590-7. doi:10.1111/j.1751-553X.2010.01223.x. American Cancer Society. Blood transfusions for people with cancer. Additional Reading Medline Plus. Blood count tests. University of Rochester Medical Library. What are white blood cells? Kaushansky K, Lichtman MA, Prchal J, Levi MM, Press O, Burns L, Caligiuri M. (2016). Williams Hematology (9th ed.) USA. McGraw-Hill Education.