Causes of Neutropenia (Decreased Neutrophil) (Absolute count < 8000/ cu.mm.)

Causes of Neutropenia (Absolute count < 8000/ cu.mm.)

·        Infections: bacterial (e.g. overwhelming infection, septicemia, typhoid, paratyphoid) viral infections (infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis, influenza, measles, rubella), rickettsia, others (malaria, kala- azar).

·        Infants (normal count 40%).

·        Hodgkin's disease, chronic sinusitis, hemolytic anemia and lonizing radiation

·        Drugs & chemical (antibiotics, analgesics, antithyroids, arsenicals and ionizing radiation

·        Hematopoietic diseases (aleukemic leukemia, aplastic anemia) and splenic sequestration.

·        Autoimmune and isoimmune neotropenias.

·        Immune defects like infertile genetic agranulocytosis.

Causes of Neutrophilia (Increased Neutrophil) (Absolute count > 8000/ cu.mm.)

Causes of Neutrophilia (Absolute count > 8000/ cu.mm.)  

·        Acute infections:

·        Localized (e.g. Pneumonia, meningitis, tonsillitis).

·        Generalized (e.g. acute rheumatic fever, septicemia, cholera).

·        Inflammation (e.g. vasculitis).

·        Intoxications: metabolic (e.g. acidosis, uremia, acute gout); Poisonings (e.g. mercury, epinephrine, black widow spider bite).

·        Acute hemorrhage or hemolysis of red blood cells.

·        Tissue necrosis (e.g. acute myocardial infarction [AMI], burns, gangrene).

·        Physiological (e.g. exercise, Stress, obstetric labor, menstrution).

Differential leukocyte Count (DLC)

Differential leukocyte Count (DLC)

Normal Range
Granulocytes	Percentage	Agranulocytes	Percentage
Neutrophils	54-62 %	Lymphocytes	20- 40 %
Eosinophils	1-4 %	Monocytes	3-7 %
Basophils	< 1 %

Indications

 Support diagnosis of various infections and inflammation; 
diagnosis of myeloproliferative disorders;
neutrophil and band counts may be useful in acute appendicitis and 
neonatal sepsis with moderate sensitivity and specificity