Low-targeting on the leukogram may be a sign of infections or blood diseases. However, the targeted level may also be below normal in cases of treatment with chemotherapy, alcoholism, stress, use of certain medications, among other conditions.
Targeted are defense cells of the immune system known as white blood cells or leukocytes. There are 5 types of leukocytes: eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes. In the case of the segmented, these are mature neutrophils. The immature are called rods.
The number of targeted is low when these cells are required quickly to fight an infection, for example, or when the body is not able to produce enough of them.
The main blood diseases which can lower target rates are aplastic anemia, chronic idiopathic neutropenia, cyclic neutropenia, myelodysplasia, neutropenia associated with dysgammaglobulinemia, nocturnal paroxysmal hemoglobinuria and severe congenital neutropenia (Kostmann's syndrome).
There are also syndromes, such as Shwachman-Diamond, which can leave the targeted level low.
There are also other specific conditions that may decrease the amount of these cells in the circulation, such as excessive stress, use of corticosteroids, antipyretics and antibiotics or even used to treat AIDS, virus infections, cancer (chemotherapy), bone marrow transplantation, of vitamin B12, among others.
Babies with less than 3 months may also present low results for those targeted during serious infections since they have very limited reserves of these cells in the body.
The outcome of the leukogram, as well as the whole blood count, should be interpreted by the examining physician, along with the history, symptoms, and clinical signs of the patient.
Learn more at:
Eosinophils low on the exam what does it mean?
High blood count neutrophils: What does it mean?
What is neutropenia and what is the appropriate treatment?
What does low blood counts mean?
