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Neutrophils are a type of leukocytes and, therefore, are responsible for the defense of the organism, having their amount increased in the blood when there is an infection or inflammation occurring. The neutrophil found in the greatest circulating quantity is the segmented neutrophil, also known as mature neutrophil, which is responsible for involving infected or injured cells and then eliminating them.
The normal reference value of segmented neutrophil circulating in the blood can vary according to the laboratory, however, in general it is from 1600 to 8000 segmented neutrophils per mm³ of blood. Thus, when neutrophils are high it is usually indicative that the person has some bacterial or fungal infection, since this cell acts to protect the body.
In the blood test, in addition to indicating the amount of segmented neutrophils, the amount of eosinophils, basophils and rod and stick neutrophils is also reported, which are neutrophils that have just been produced in order to fight infection and result in the formation of more segmented neutrophils.
The amount of neutrophils can be assessed by performing a complete blood count, in which the entire white blood series can be checked. Leukocytes are evaluated in a specific part of the blood count, the leukocyte which may indicate:
1. Tall neutrophils
The increase in the amount of neutrophils, also known as neutrophilia, can happen due to several situations, the main ones being:
- Infections;
- Inflammatory disorders;
- Diabetes;
- Uremia;
- Eclampsia in pregnancy;
- Liver necrosis;
- Chronic myeloid leukemia;
- Post-splenectomy polycythemia;
- Hemolytic anemia;
- Myeloproliferative syndromes;
- Bleeding;
- Burn;
- Electric shock;
- Cancer.
Neutrophilia can also happen due to physiological conditions, such as in newborns, during childbirth, after episodes of repeated vomiting, fear, stress, use of drugs with adrenaline, anxiety and after exaggerated physical activities. Thus, if the value of neutrophils is high, the doctor may order other diagnostic tests to correctly identify the cause and initiate appropriate treatment. See more about neutrophilia.
2. Low neutrophils
The decrease in the amount of neutrophils, also called neutropenia, can happen due to:
- Aplastic, megaloblastic or iron deficiency anemia;
- Leukemia;
- Hypothyroidism;
- Use of medicines;
- Autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus;
- Myelofibrosis;
- Cirrhosis.
In addition, there may be neonatal neutropenia in the case of severe infection by viruses or bacteria after birth. Children with Down syndrome also tend to have low neutrophils without any health problems.
In case of neutropenia, the doctor may recommend performing a myelogram to investigate the cause of the decrease in the amount of segmented neutrophils in the blood, in addition to checking if there is any change related to the production of neutrophil precursor cells in the bone marrow.