Leukopenia or Decreased of White Blood Cells

If white blood cells have too few, it is defined as leukopenia. Mature leukocytes include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Each type protects the body from different kinds of infections. There are several different types of leukopenia depending on which type of white blood cell is low. If the white blood cells is decreased, the peripheral blood smear examined to enumerate which cell type is decreased. If neutrophils is low, it is known as neutropenia. Neutrophils are the white blood cells that protect from fungal and bacterial infections. Leukopenia is so often caused from a decrease in neutrophils that some people use the terms leukopenia and neutropenia interchangeably. The lower limit of the normal neutrophil count is usually 1,8 ×10⁹/l. When the absolute neutrophil level falls below 0,5 ×10⁹/l the patient is likely to have recurrent infections and when the count falls to less than 0,2 ×10⁹/l the risks are very serious.