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Monocytes are blood cells, large mononuclear agranulocytes responsible for the formation of adaptive immunity in humans. Their decrease can be a sign of a weakening of the body’s own defenses, which leads to the development of various diseases.
Deciphering the analysis for monocytes
Monocytes mature in the bone marrow, from which they are transported to the liver, spleen and lungs. There they are converted into macrophages, which solve the following tasks in the body:
Participate in the formation of cellular immunity. Macrophages neutralize viruses and bacteria by enveloping them in their own plasma.
They prevent the spread of the inflammatory reaction. They rush to the problem area, creating a protective layer on its surface. Thus, healthy tissues are not involved in the inflammatory process.
Destroy toxins and dead cells in the lesions.
Indicators of the norm
In a healthy adult, monocyte norms range from 1-8%, which corresponds to 1000-4500 cells per µl of blood.
When deciphering a children’s blood test, you need to focus on the following numbers:
3-12% – for newborns;
5-15% – from birth to 14 days;
4-10% – from 14 days to a year;
4-10% – 1-2 years.
3-9% – from 2 to 16 years.
Deviations from the norm
If the level of monocytes is lower by 2% of the age norm, they speak of the development of monocytopenia. Such values can be in people with a viral infection, or with a weakened immune system. As a result of a decrease in the body’s defenses, pathogenic flora is activated in it.
With an increase in the number of monocytes by 8-10% of the norm, they speak of monocytosis. It indicates the activation of immunity, which is aimed at fighting infection.
The number of monocytes in the blood is unstable, the indicators can change in one direction or another. The reason for in-depth diagnosis should be regular deviations from the norm.
Causes of a decrease in monocytes
There are many reasons leading to a decrease in the level of monocytes. These can be viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and even oncology. A sharp drop in their number is always observed in people undergoing chemotherapy, since the drugs for its implementation are aimed at suppressing the activity of the immune system.
Common causes
Common reasons include:
Burns and other serious injuries.
The rehabilitation period after the operation.
Cancer, cancer therapy.
Chronic stress, leading to narrowing of the blood vessels that feed the bone marrow, which negatively affects the proliferation of all blood cells.
Itsenko-Cushing syndrome, in which the adrenal glands produce an excessive amount of hormones.
Long-term therapy with glucocorticosteroids.
Aplastic anemia, in which the bone marrow does not work properly.
Inflammatory process in the body.
Severe viral or bacterial infection.
Physical exhaustion.
Decreased immunity.
If the level of monocytes tends to zero, there is a serious threat to life: the patient develops acute leukemia or sepsis. The body cannot cope with these diseases on its own.
In men
The following reasons lead to a decrease in the level of monocytes in men:
Stress.
Cytostatic or corticosteroid therapy.
Starvation.
HIV or developing AIDS.
Disorders in the work of the bone marrow.
SLE.
Inflammation of the intestines.
B12 deficiency anemia.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Blood cancer.
Epstein-Barr virus.
Pain shock.
Women
A drop in the level of monocytes in the blood in women is observed during pregnancy. This can be triggered by a decrease in immunity, or a deficiency of folic acid.
If the disease was detected in a woman not in position, she needs to consult a gynecologist. It is possible that the reason for the deviation in the analyzes is a sexual infection.
How to raise the level of monocytes?
To calculate the number of monocytes, it is necessary to donate blood for a general analysis. If the values are outside the normal range, specialist advice is required. First you need to exclude all factors that do not carry a serious threat. The patient is asked whether he has recently suffered stress, whether he adheres to a strict diet, etc. After that, they are given a second analysis. If the number of monocytes continues to decline, the doctor should suspect a serious infection or blood cancer. In this case, perform a puncture of the bone marrow.
It’s hard to predict. It all depends on the diagnosis, as well as on the degree of decrease in monocytes in the blood and the symptoms of the disease, on the state of the patient’s immunity.
There are several treatment options for low monocyte levels:
The patient is injected with hematopoietic growth factors that promote the maturation of leukocytes in the bone marrow. In parallel, the therapy of detected infectious diseases is carried out.
The patient is prescribed intravenous immunoglobulin and steroid therapy.
If, against the background of low monocytes, the patient is haunted by a cough that lasts longer than 14 days, he needs to be examined by a phthisiatrician. It is possible that the patient is developing tuberculosis.
Against the background of the treatment of infectious processes, a person must adhere to a diet.
There is no specific prevention. The recommendations are general: wash your hands more often with soap and water, wear a mask, do not visit crowded places during an outbreak of infectious diseases.
In addition, there are some foods that help the body maintain normal levels of monocytes in the blood:
Olives, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, whole grains. You need to give up the consumption of products – sources of saturated fats and trans fats, from fast food.
All foods that form the basis of the Mediterranean diet.
Omega-3 sources, namely oily fish.