Disorders of the white blood cells resulting in levels too low or too high are quantitative, whereas qualitative disorders describe problems with the function of the cell.
Increased number of circulating granulocytes
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An increased number of granulocytes is a primary response to an infectious process. However, myeloproliferative disorders such as leukemia can also cause an increase.
Decreased circulating granulocytes exhausted by an ongoing infection
Neutropenia
Increased risk for infection
Severe neutropenia, <500, is usually d/t issues with production in bone marrow
typically resultant from chemotherapy or other malignancies.
Myelocytic Leukemia can causeneutrophilia
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Neutrophil count > 100,000, raises blood viscosity significantly increasing chance for thrombosis or complete occlusion of blood vessels.
shift-to-the-left
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Increased amount of immature neutrophils released into circulation cause a shift to the left. This can be due to either an infectious process, and the body is unable to keep up with production of neutrophils, or from leukemia as well.
Basopenia
Lymphoctosis
Leukemia
abnormal blast wbc overcrowd bone marrow and spill into blood
overcrowding causes normal cells to cease functioning
