Title: A High Number of Leukocytes | Healthfully
Headings: A High Number of Leukocytes
A High Number of Leukocytes
Is This an Emergency?
Causes of Leukocytosis
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Monocytes and Basophils
Emergencies
Reviewed by: Tom Iarocci, M.D.

Content: stress
exercise
Unless the cause
is immediately obvious
your doctor will need more information to make sense of the finding
including potentially which WBC types are over-represented
as well as your entire history
including any presenting symptoms
physical findings
Neutrophils
What a White Blood Count of 12000 Means
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Infection is the most common cause of elevated neutrophil counts. Most bacterial infections cause what is known as “neutrophilia with bandemia,” where neutrophilia reflects the high count and bandemia refers to an excess of band cells, or immature white blood cells. However, inflammation without an infection – for instance, in rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease – can also produce neutrophilia, as can certain medications such as: heparin
some seizure medications
steroids
others
Certain malignancies such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma may produce neutrophilia as well. Eosinophils
Leukocytosis may also be due to high numbers of white blood cells known as eosinophils, or eosinophilia. Often eosinophilia can be linked to an allergic process or drug reaction. Other illnesses and some skin conditions may also be associated with high WBC counts do to eosinophilia. Monocytes and Basophils
Blood Cell Count & Infections
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High counts of monocytes are associated with certain infections such as: lupus,
certain malignancies
The blood cancers chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, Hodgkin disease and other blood proliferative diseases may produce monocytosis. A high basophil count leading to leukocytosis is rare, but it can occur in chronic myelogenous leukemia.