Neutrophils are white blood cells that fight against bacteria that attack the immune system. Neutrophils make up 55 to 70 percent of your white blood cells. So, what does high and low neutrophil mean?
Neutrophil is the most common type of leukocytes among leukocytes in the blood. They are effective in the body's fight against microbes. Now, NEU: What is a neutrophil? What does high and low neutrophil mean? Let's learn together...
NEU: What is Neutrophil?
Immune cell type, one of the first cell types to go to the site of infection. Neutrophils help fight infection by digesting microorganisms and releasing enzymes that kill microorganisms. A neutrophil is a type of white blood cell, a type of granulocyte, and a type of phagocytes.
NEU is also called neutrophil or neut.
There are four other white blood cells besides neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most abundant type, making up 55 to 70 percent of your white blood cells. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are an important part of your immune system.
Your immune system is made up of tissues, organs, and cells. As part of this complex system, white blood cells patrol your bloodstream and lymphatic system.
When you're sick or have a minor injury, substances your body sees as foreign, known as antigens, activate your immune system.
Examples of antigens include:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Mushrooms
- poisons
- Cancer cells
White blood cells go to the source of infection or inflammation and produce chemicals that fight antigens. Neutrophils are important because, unlike other white blood cells, they are not confined to a particular circulatory area. They can move freely from the vessel walls into your body's tissues to attack all antigens immediately.
What Should Neu Normal Values Be?
Neutrophil counts range from 1.500 to 8.000 per microliter of blood in adults. As a percentage, approximately 50% to 70% of white blood cells are neu. Always use the normal range printed on the blood test report to decide which range is normal.
What Does High Neutrophil Mean?
Having high levels of neutrophils in your blood is called neutrophilia. This is a sign that your body has an infection. Neutrophilia can refer to a number of underlying conditions and factors, including:
- Infection, most likely bacterial
- non-infectious inflammation
- injuries
- Surgical
- Smoking or smelling tobacco
- high stress level
- Extreme exercise
- Steroid use
- Heart attack
- chronic myeloid leukemia
What Does Low Neutrophil Mean?
Neutropenia is the term for low neutrophil levels. Low neutrophil counts are most often associated with medications, but they can be a sign of other factors or diseases, including:
- Certain medications, including those used in chemotherapy
- suppressed immune system
- bone marrow failure
- extreme anemia
- Febrile neutropenia is a medical emergency
- Congenital disorders such as Kostmann syndrome and cyclic neutropenia
- Hepatitis A, B or C
- HIV/AIDS
- Blood poisoning
- Autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
You have the greatest risk of infection when your neutrophil count falls below 1.500 neutrophils per microliter. Very low neutrophil counts can lead to life-threatening infections.
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