Leukopenia is a condition in which the number of white blood cells in the body is low. This condition can be caused by a variety of things, from a severe infection to medication side effects. If not treated properly, leukopenia has the potential to cause serious complications and even death.
Blood consists of platelets, blood plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Each blood component has its own function, one of which is white blood cells which are an important part of the immune system. Normally, there are about 3,500–10,500 white blood cells per one microliter of blood.
White blood cells or leukocytes are responsible for producing antibodies as resistance against harmful substances or germs that enter the body. A person is said to have leukopenia if the white blood cell count is less than 4,000.
When the white blood cell count is too low, the body will be susceptible to disease and infection. To find out whether the white blood cell count is normal or not, it is necessary to have an examination by a doctor, one of which is through a complete blood count.
Conditions That Cause Low White Blood Cells
A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can be caused by the following conditions:
1. Infection
Reduced white blood cell counts or leukopenia can be caused by infectious diseases, such as blood infections or sepsis, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.
2. Congenital abnormalities
Low white blood cell counts can be caused by congenital abnormalities at birth, such as heart disease myelokathexis and Kostmann syndrome, which reduces the function of the bone marrow to produce blood cells.
3. Autoimmune disorders
Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritiss, can make the immune system damage healthy body tissues, including tissue in the bone marrow. Over time, this condition can make the white blood cell count decrease.
4. Drug side effects
Leukopenia can also be caused by a number of side effects of medications, such as antibiotics, thyroid medications, antipsychotics, and corticosteroids. These drugs if taken in large amounts or long term can cause bone marrow function disorders, so that the number of white blood cells decreases.
5. Malnutrition
Lack of some vitamins, such as vitamin B12, folate, zinc, and copper, can make the body produce fewer white blood cells and eventually lead to leukopenia. This condition can get worse if accompanied by consumption of alcoholic beverages or frequent exposure to toxic substances, such as mercury.
6. Disorders of the blood or bone marrow
Low white blood cells can also occur due to disorders or diseases related to blood cells or bone marrow, for example aplastic anemia, spleen damage, myelodysplasia syndrome, and myelofibrosis.
7. Cancer
Blood cancer and bone marrow cancer can make the bone marrow unable to produce blood cells normally. As a result, the number of white blood cells in the body will decrease. This condition can worsen if the cancer has spread or cancer metastases occur.
8. Cancer treatment side effects
Sometimes, leukopenia can occur as a side effect of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This is because the treatment has an impact on the function and performance of the bone marrow, so that white blood cells cannot be produced normally.
9. Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a disease caused by an excessive immune response or immune system, which causes inflammation in several organs of the body. If inflammation has caused damage to the bone marrow, leukopenia can occur. Because it can be caused by many things, leukopenia treatment must be tailored to the cause. Therefore, this condition needs to be checked first by an internal medicine doctor.
After the doctor determines the diagnosis of leukopenia through a physical examination and supporting examinations in the form of a complete blood test, treatment steps will be carried out according to the cause.
Treatment for leukopenia given by a doctor can be in the form of medication, discontinuation of the drug that causes leukopenia, blood transfusion, or bone marrow transplantation.
Leukopenia sometimes does not cause typical symptoms. However, you need to be careful if you often experience fever, chronic diarrhea, cough that doesn't go away, and weight loss for no apparent reason. These complaints could indicate a lack of white blood cells.