Pediatric White Blood Cell Disorders

Pathophysiology

Body produces white blood cells (leukocytes), which help fight bacterial infections, viruses and fungi. If your child has too few or too many white blood cells, in general, here's what it means: Low white blood cell count (leukopenia) means having too few leukocytes circulating in the blood. A long-term low white blood cell count increases the risk of infections and may be caused by a number of different diseases and conditions. High white blood cell count (leukocytosis) means having too many leukocytes circulating in the blood, usually from having an infection. A number of different diseases and conditions may cause a long-term high white blood cell count.

Disease statistics

The 2005 Update Committee agreed unanimously that reduction in febrile neutropenia (FN) is an important clinical outcome that justifies the use of CSFs, regardless of impact on other factors, when the risk of FN is approximately 20% and no other equally effective regimen that does not require CSFs is available. Primary prophylaxis is recommended for the prevention of FN in patients who are at high risk based on age, medical history, disease characteristics, and myelotoxicity of the chemotherapy regimen.

Treatment

Treatments for white blood cell disorders depend on several factors, including: The type of disorder, The extent of the disorder, Your child’s overall health, Your child’s response to treatment, Your preferences Our treatments for your child’s white blood cell disorder may include: Chemotherapy, Radiation, Antibiotics, Colony-stimulating factors (these increase the body’s production of blood cells), Drugs to suppress the immune system Stem cell transplantation may be useful for some types of severe white blood cell disorders, particularly those caused by bone marrow problems

Research

A community-based sample (Framingham Offspring Study) of 1393 men and 1401 women who were free of CVD at the onset of the study and who were between the ages of 30 and 59 years at baseline. Time-dependent multiple variable logistic regression methods were used.