Conditions where there are too many white blood cells in the blood and urine:
If the doctor finds a large number of white blood cells in the blood or urine, this indicates a disorder in the body. The reasons are often harmless. Serious illnesses are also possible, which the doctor usually clarifies promptly.
Normal values of white blood cells in healthy people
If the person is healthy and has reached adulthood, the laboratory counts between 4,500 and 11,000 leukocytes in a blood test
The number of these is lower in women than in men. Children have a much larger number of leukocytes responsible for the immune system . Levels of 15,000 in school children and up to 30,000 white blood cells in newborns are considered normal.
Leukocytosis – a non-specific symptom
The technical term for an increased number of white blood cells is leukocytosis . It is considered a non-specific symptom of an infection as well as chronic and acute inflammation of the body. The leukocytosis is usually represented by increased granulocyte values in the blood picture . It accompanies the following specific diseases, among others:
- Appendicitis (appendix inflammation / colloquially appendicitis),
- Crohn’s disease (chronic inflammatory bowel disease),
- Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestine with the formation of pus and ulcers),
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder),
- Adnexitis (combined inflammation of the fallopian tubes and ovaries).
In addition, the doctor finds too many leukocytes during cortisone or hormone therapy.
Non-morbid reasons for leukocytosis
Leukocytosis may be easy to explain. That’s how it is
- Stress,
- during pregnancy ( pregnancy ),
- Use of nicotine (smoker’s leukocytosis)
- or after eating
often lead to increases in the number of white blood cells. Doctors call the latter effect “digestive leukocytosis”.
Leukocytosis – not always harmless
In addition to harmless reasons, there are pathological causes for too many leukocytes in the blood and urine.
Bacterial leukocytosis:
- cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts),
- urinary tract infections,
- pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs),
- Abscesses (purulent growths).
Danger of sepsis (blood poisoning) or serious consequences due to further transport to the heart.
Other diseases that lead to leukocytosis:
- Leukemia (blood cancer),
especially chronic myeloid leukemia , - Polycythemia vera,
malignant (malignant) disease with an increase in erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes (blood platelets), - autoimmune diseases,
- cancer (tumors / neoplasia),
- injuries caused by accidents,
- burns,
- endocrine disorders (diseases of hormone-producing organs), for example thyroid diseases,
- disorders of the central nervous system,
- splenectomy (removal of the spleen),
- chronic idiopathic neutrophilia,
granulocyte count is increased for no apparent reason, - Myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Leukocyturia – too many white blood cells in the urine
If there are too many leukocytes in the urine , doctors speak of leukocyturia . The reasons for this are:
- cystitis (inflammation of the bladder),
- urethritis (inflammation of the urethra),
- pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney pelvis).
Other causes of leukocyturia:
- kidney diseases,
- infections,
- STDs,
- tumors of the urinary tract.
At what values are leukocytes in the urine considered pathological
A certain number of leukocytes in the urine is considered normal. The values from which a leukocyturia is considered pathological depend on the diagnostic method used. You can choose from:
- the urine strip quick test (stick test),
normal value: up to ten leukocytes in one microliter.
More is considered a pathological event. - the pus urine,
the so-called pyuria can be seen with the naked eye. The urine is cloudy with misty streaks. Its odor is nauseating and pungent. Pyuria can be caused by severe urinary tract infections such as nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), pyelitis (inflammation of the kidneys) and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). - the urine sediment.
The urine sediment consists of the solid components of the urine. The laboratory technicians obtain it by centrifuging the urine. Then they examine it with the microscope. If you find more than five leukocytes per field of view, you assume a pathological process, the cause of which you are looking for. The diagnosis is based on the other components of the urine sediment, which include the erythrocytes , bacteria, yeasts, crystals and cells from the kidney tissue and the mucous membrane of the bladder. Columnar cells are another cell that indicates inflammation in kidney tissue.
To clarify which pathological process is behind the increased occurrence of leukocytes, the laboratory keeps an eye out for blood (hematuria), bacteria and germs in the urine of the person concerned.
Too many white blood cells – indication of harmless events and serious diseases
Too many leukocytes occur in the blood (leukocytosis) and in the urine (leukocyturia). The causes are manifold. They range from harmless incidents to serious diseases such as blood cancer (especially CML) as well as tumors and pathological processes in the kidneys.
Further:
https://www.leukozyten-info.de/leukozyten-im-urin
http://www.medizinfo.de/labormedizin/haematologie/leukozytenanzahl.shtml
http://www.leukozyten.org/leukozyten-zu-hoch.html
Medical note for our readers:
Our patient information explains medical topics in a simple and understandable way. Our information is not a substitute for a medical examination. Please see a specialist for diagnosis or treatment.
