Leukocytosis

What is leukocytosis?

• Leukocytosis is a condition where you have too many leukocytes in your blood. Leukocytes are also called white blood cells (WBC). Your WBCs are part of your immune system. Your immune system is the part of your body that fights infections and diseases. WBCs are made in your bone marrow, which is soft, spongy tissue inside your bones. Some of your WBCs remain in your bone marrow and some are released into your blood. There are different kinds of WBCs. Each kind of cell may be released into your blood for a different reason.
  
  
• Leukocytosis occurs when too many WBCs are released into your blood. Leukocytosis may get better with or without treatment. If your blood has a very high amount of WBCs, then you may have hyperleukocytosis. Hyperleukocytosis is a serious condition that requires treatment right away. With treatment, your WBCs may return to a normal level. Your symptoms, such as pain and a poor appetite, may decrease.

What causes leukocytosis?

• Infection: An infection is a common cause of leukocytosis. An infection may be caused by germs called bacteria. It may also be caused by a virus or a parasite (a bug that may live in your bowels). Pneumonia and chicken pox are infections that may cause leukocytosis.
  
  
• Inflammation: Inflammation (swelling, pain, and redness) is another common cause of leukocytosis. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that may cause leukocytosis. Your joints are where two bones come together.
  
  
• Tissue damage: You may get leukocytosis when your body tissue is damaged, such as from burns. Some diseases that cause tissue damage include cancer and heart disease.
  
  
• Immune reactions: Leukocytosis may occur when your immune system reacts too strongly. This may happen during an asthma or allergy attack.
  
  
• Bone marrow problems: You may get leukocytosis if your bone marrow makes too many WBCs. This may happen if you have leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow). With leukemia, your body makes more WBCs than it needs. These WBCs do not work like normal WBCs. Other bone marrow diseases that may make too many WBCs include polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and thrombocytopenia. Ask your caregiver for more information about these conditions.
  
  
• Medicine: Some medicines may cause leukocytosis. These include medicines used to treat inflammation, mental health disorders, cancer, and breathing problems. Ask your caregiver if your medicine may cause leukocytosis.
  
  
• Stress: You may get leukocytosis if you have a lot of emotional stress. Leukocytosis may also occur if your body goes through physical stress. This may happen if you push your body too hard, like during extreme exercise. Surgery, seizures (uncontrolled shaking), and illness can also cause your body to be stressed.

What signs and symptoms might I have with leukocytosis?

You may not have any signs or symptoms from your leukocytosis. If you do have symptoms, they are often caused by the disease that led to your leukocytosis. Common symptoms that you may have with leukocytosis, or its cause, may include any of the following:

• Fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• Bleeding or bruising.
  
  
• Feeling weak, tired, or sick.
  
  
• Feeling dizzy, faint, or sweaty.
  
  
• Pain or tingling in your arms, legs, or abdomen (stomach).
  
  
• Trouble breathing.
  
  
• Trouble thinking or seeing.
  
  
• Losing weight without trying or a poor appetite.

How is leukocytosis diagnosed?

• Your caregiver will diagnose your leukocytosis using a blood test that counts your white blood cells. This test is called a complete blood count (CBC). Your caregiver will then try to figure out the cause of your leukocytosis. Your caregiver will ask you about your health history and your symptoms. He will ask you if you have allergies or other medical conditions. Tell your caregiver if you have recently had a lot of emotional or physical stress. Tell him about your usual schedule during the day. Your caregiver may also do a complete physical check-up.
  
  
• You may have other blood tests, such as a peripheral blood smear (PBS). A PBS will show the shape and form of your WBCs. It will also show if you have too much of one type of WBC in your blood. Your caregiver may do tests on your bone marrow to check it for disease. He may also do tests to look for infection or other possible causes of your condition. Ask your caregiver for more information about the tests that you need.

How is leukocytosis treated?

Your WBCs may return to normal with or without treatment. If you do have treatment, your caregiver will usually treat the cause of your leukocytosis. If the cause is a medicine, your caregiver may ask you to stop taking that medicine. Do not stop taking a medicine unless your caregiver says it is okay. If the cause is an allergy, your caregiver may ask you to avoid whatever is causing your allergy. Your treatment may also include one or more of the following:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids: You may need extra fluid in your blood vessels. These liquids are given through an IV, which is a tube placed in your vein. This tube is connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Medicine:
  
  
  • Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help you treat or prevent the infection that is causing your condition. It may also help stop you from getting sepsis, which is a serious infection in your blood.
    
    
  • Steroids: This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation. It may also help decrease the number of your WBCs.
    
    
  • Antacids: These medicines help decrease the acid in your urine during your treatment for leukocytosis.
    
    
  • Anti-uric acid medicine: This medicine may be given to decrease the amount of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a chemical found in your blood. It may also help prevent more damage to your cells.
  
  
• Leukocytoreduction: This procedure decreases the number of WBCs in your blood. It may also help stop leukostasis, which happens when your WBCs clump together in your blood.
  
  
  • Leukapheresis: During leukapheresis, blood is taken from your body through an IV. White blood cells (WBCs) are removed from the blood by a machine or a caregiver. Your blood, without the WBCs, may be given back to you, or sent to a lab for tests. It may also be stored and given to another person.
    
    
  • Chemotherapy:
    
    
    • Chemotherapy is also called "chemo". It is a special medicine that is often used to treat cancer, such as leukemia. It works by killing tumor cells. Your caregiver will decide what kind and how much chemotherapy you may need. Your caregiver may start you on one kind of chemotherapy and then switch to another. Chemotherapy may be used to decrease the amount of WBCs in your blood or treat your leukemia. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Once the tumor is smaller, you may have surgery to cut out the rest of the cancer.
      
      
    • Many different chemotherapy medicines are used to treat cancer. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. Chemotherapy can cure some cancers. Even if the chemotherapy does not cure your cancer, it may help you feel better or live longer.
  
  
• Bone marrow transplant (BMT): This is when your diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy marrow. You are usually given bone marrow from someone else (a donor). Sometimes your own marrow may be used if it is collected when your cancer is in remission (not active). The bone marrow transplant is given to you in an IV while you are in the hospital. A BMT may cure your illness, but it can cause other very serious health problems. You may be in the hospital for a month after your BMT.
  
  
• Blood transfusion: You will get whole or parts of blood through an IV during a transfusion. Blood is tested for diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, to be sure it is safe.

Where can I get support and more information on leukocytosis?

Leukocytosis can be life-changing for you and your family. Learning more about leukocytosis and its causes may help you and your family cope better with this disease. Contact the following:

• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  Health Information Center
  P.O. Box 30105
  Bethesda , MD 20824-0105
  Phone: 1- 301 - 592-8573
  Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
  

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc.
  1311 Mamaroneck Avenue
  White Plains , NY 10605
  Phone: 1- 914 - 949-5213
  Phone: 1- 800 - 955-4572
  Web Address: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
  

When should I call my caregiver?

Call your caregiver if:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• You bruise or bleed easily.
  
  
• You have weight loss without trying or a poor appetite.
  
  
• You feel nauseated (sick to your stomach).
  
  
• You feel weak, tired, or sick.
  
  
• You feel dizzy, faint, or sweaty.
  
  
• You are a male and you have a painful erection that lasts longer than usual.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

When should I seek immediate help?

Seek care immediately or call 911 if:

• You have chest pain.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have new trouble hearing or seeing.
  
  
• You have sudden trouble thinking.
  
  
• You have new pain or tingling in your arms, legs, or abdomen.
  
  
• You have sudden back pain.
  
  
• You have signs of a stroke: The following signs are an emergency. Call 911 immediately if you have any of the following:
  
  
  • Weakness or numbness in your arm, leg, or face (may be on only one side of your body)
    
    
  • Confusion and problems speaking or understanding speech
    
    
  • A very bad headache that may feel like the worst headache of your life
    
    
  • Not being able to see out of one or both of your eyes
    
    
  • Feeling too dizzy to stand

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.