Monocytopenia - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Monocytopenia

Monocytes are blood cells that are part of the leukocyte group. Their number in the general structure of the leukocyte link is 2-10%. These cells are called the orderlies of the human body. They have high bactericidal activity, which is especially intense in the acidic environment of the body. If inflammation develops somewhere, then neutrophils are sent to the focus first. Monocytes will be there a little later. They, like "janitors", will remove all the consequences of the war: dead leukocytes and microbes, the remains of destroyed cells.

Monocytes capture and absorb even large cells, while they themselves very rarely die when faced with pathogens. Therefore, monocytopenia, characterized by a decrease in the level of monocytes in the blood, may indicate a serious illness of the body.

Content:

• Monocytopenia: norm or pathology?
• Causes of monocytopenia
• Monocytopenia symptoms
• Diagnosis of monocytopenia
• Monocytopenia treatment

Monocytopenia: norm or pathology?

Monocytes are agranulocyte leukocytes, that is, they do not contain granules. Their size exceeds the size of all other blood cells. Monocytes reach 18-20 microns in diameter. Each monocyte contains an oval nucleus.

Normally, when a person is healthy, the level of monocytes in the blood is equal to 3-11% of all leukocytes. In addition, monocytes are present in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. There are many more of them than in the blood.

Monocytes produce bone marrow. From it, they enter the systemic circulation and circulate there in a free state for 2-3 days. Then their physiological death (apoptosis) occurs, or they are transformed into macrophages and sent to tissues. In the form of macrophages, monocytes will live in them for another 30-60 days.

Monocytopenia is characterized by a decrease in the level of monocytes below the normal range. This clinical and hematological syndrome accompanies a number of severe conditions and is not an independent pathology. Therefore, it can be unequivocally stated that monocytopenia is not a variant of the norm.

The level of monocytes in the blood varies with the age of the person. This indicator is characterized by the following values:

• Newborn babies up to 15 days - 5-15% of monocytes.
• From 15 days to a year - 4-10%.
• From one to two years - 3-10%
• From two years old to 15 years old - 3-9%.
• For people over 15 years old - 3-11%.

There is no dependence of the level of monocytes on a person's sex. The above was the percentage of monocytes in the blood. Absolute values can also have an impact on making a correct diagnosis. For children under 12 years old, these readings are equal to 0.05-1.1 * 10 ⁹ / l. For adults, the norm is 0.04-0.08 * 10 ⁹ / l.

Thus, a decrease in the level of monocytes below 2% for an adult is considered a deviation from the norm.

Causes of monocytopenia

The causes of monocytopenia can be as follows:

• A purulent infection caused by the bacterial flora develops in the body.
• A person has aplastic anemia.
• The body has an oncological pathology of the hematopoietic system. Moreover, the disease develops over a long time and has reached a late stage.
• A person is undergoing therapy with drugs that inhibit the functioning of the bone marrow.

Each of these reasons should be discussed in more detail:

• Purulent bacterial infection as the cause of monocytopenia. If staphylococci or streptococci multiply in the body, this will lead to a decrease in the level of monocytes in the blood. The most common infections accompanied by monocytopenia are: dermatological infections (boils, phlegmon and carbuncles), osteomyelitis with damage to bone tissue, pneumonia of a bacterial nature, blood sepsis. Some purulent infections are capable of being eliminated by the body on their own, and some require the mandatory intake of antibiotics. Otherwise, the person may die, for example, with sepsis. In addition to monocytopenia, an increase in the number of neutrophils will be observed in the blood test. Since these cells are the first to "attack" the microbial flora, concentrating in the focus of inflammation.
• Aplastic anemia and monocytopenia. A decrease in the number of monocytes is accompanied by various forms of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia responds well to treatment, while aplastic anemia is a serious condition that requires special treatment. At the same time, a sharp slowdown or complete cessation of the growth and development of blood cells in the bone marrow occurs in the body. This also applies to monocytes. Aplastic anemia is characterized by a disturbance in the functioning of the hematopoietic system as a whole. If such patients do not receive treatment, then within a few months they will die.
• Cancer and Relation with monocytopenia. Monocytopenia is manifested by leukemia. The late stage of this pathology is accompanied by inhibition of the work of all the germs responsible for hematopoiesis. Therefore, there is a decrease not only in the number of monocytes, but also in other blood cells.
• Drugs that can cause monocytopenia. Intake of corticosteroids and cytostatics can provoke monocytopenia. These drugs inhibit the work of the bone marrow, which leads to the development of pancytopenia.

Monocytopenia symptoms

Monocytopenia itself does not manifest any symptoms, since this condition is not a separate disease. Therefore, the signs of monocytopenia must be considered through the prism of the pathology that provoked it.

With purulent-inflammatory processes, a person's body temperature rises, chills develop. As a rule, patients are lethargic, complain of headaches and fatigue. Appetite often worsens, bowel function suffers, protein appears in the urine. Local symptoms of inflammation are determined by the stage of development of the pathological process and the place of its localization. The classic signs of such a reaction include redness, swelling, pain, high fever, and disruption in the work of an organ.

The clinic of leukemia is as follows:

• Hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes.
• Great weakness.
• High body temperature.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Hypertrophy.
• Immunodeficiency, which often leads to the development of pneumonia and sepsis.

Aplastic anemia, accompanied by monocytopenia, is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Decreased performance.
• Increased weakness.
• Pallor of the skin.
• Frequent dizziness.
• Increased heart rate.
• Bleeding gums, hidden internal bleeding.
• Decreased body defenses.
• Frequent infectious diseases that are very difficult to cure.

Diagnosis of monocytopenia

Diagnosis of monocytopenia is not difficult. It is enough to pass a general blood test to determine the level of monocytes. These cells are included in the leukocyte blood count, since they are a type of leukocytes.

Monocytes contain in their structure an oval nucleus, which has a bright color. It is thanks to this nucleus that it is possible to differentiate monocytes from lymphocytes. This is of great importance in laboratory diagnostics. Monocytes are identified by the abbreviation MON in the analysis results.

Recent surgical interventions and childbirth can affect the number of monocytes. Emotional exhaustion of the body can also cause some decrease in the level of monocytes.

Monocytopenia treatment

Treatment of monocytopenia as a nosological unit does not make sense. It is impossible to increase the level of these blood cells without removing the cause that provoked their decrease. Therefore, therapy should be targeted, aimed at a specific disease.

Acute purulent processes require the patient to be admitted to a hospital, where he will undergo intensive therapy. The patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs, if possible, drainage of purulent foci. Immunomodulators and vitamins can help in treatment. The antibiotic is selected depending on the sensitivity of the microorganism to a specific drug, or broad-spectrum drugs are used.

Treatment of aplastic anemia involves addressing the cause that provoked it. The patient can be prescribed hormonal and cytostatic drugs. In severe cases, a bone marrow transplant is required.

Patients with leukemia are admitted to oncological hospitals. The basis of treatment is polychemotherapy, which can be supplemented with transfusions of erythrocyte or platelet mass, antibacterial therapy of infectious complications, intravenous infusions and hemosorption. The patient can be completely cured after bone marrow transplantation.

When monocytopenia has been triggered by medication, they must be stopped. If this is done in a timely manner, then the functions of the bone marrow can be restored.

More: Monocytes are lowered: what does this mean? How to raise?

Monocytes, like other blood cells, are markers of a person's health status. With a decrease in their number, it is necessary to conduct additional research aimed at determining the cause of this violation. The diagnosis and selection of a therapeutic regimen is carried out not only taking into account laboratory data, but also on the basis of the clinic that characterizes a specific disease.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".