What is neutropenia?
Neutropenia is a blood disease that can affect everyone. Some people are born with this. However, neutropenia can appear after a viral infection, be a side effect of drugs or exposure to certain medications. Neutropenia can be caused by insufficient production or accelerated destruction of white blood cells. Neutropenia can occur in the treatment of cancer, with chemotherapy, or antiviral therapy for viral hepatitis.
What are neutrophils?
Blood consists of billions of cells. There are many different types of blood cells, but the main ones are red and white blood cells. Erythrocytes (red blood cells) predominate over other types of blood cells. They are critical because they carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of your body. However, leukocytes(white blood cells) are just as important, but for an entirely different reason. One of their functions is to protect the body from infection. There are several types of white cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils. Each of them has a particular function. The most common of these are neutrophils, whose task is to identify and destroy bacteria, and lymphocytes, important for the immune system, as well as protection against viruses.
What is fraught with neutropenia?
The term "neutropenia" describes "a situation where the number of neutrophils in the blood is too low." Neutrophils play a significant role in protecting the body against bacterial infections and, consequently, patients with a low number of neutrophils are more susceptible to these infections. Every person continually faces an infection. This is because it is easy to get into the body of bacteria and viruses that cause infections. However, in healthy people, immunity can cope with these pathogens without causing disease. Neutrophils participate in the formation of this immunity. They are the primary protection against infections. Patients taking pegylated interferon have an increased risk of developing neutropenia. Clinical studies have shown that 95% of patients, antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin, the number of neutrophils is below average. 20% of them develop severe neutropenia. It is important to remember that in comparison with patients undergoing chemotherapy, the vast majority of patients with neutropenia caused by interferon intake, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections. However, even though the risk of developing a disease is low, patients undergoing antiviral therapy should be treated by a doctor to prevent severe neutropenia and an acute infection associated with it. In the overwhelming majority of patients with neutropenia caused by the use of interferon, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections. However, even though the risk of developing a disease is low, patients undergoing antiviral therapy should be under the continuous supervision of a doctor, to prevent severe neutropenia and an acute infection associated with it. In the overwhelming majority of patients with neutropenia caused by the use of interferon, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections.
Severity of neutropenia
The level of neutrophils can be extensive. In the blood of healthy adults, 1500 to 7000 neutrophils are contained in a microlitre of blood plasma (1.5-7.0 x 10 3 cells / μl). The severity of neutropenia usually depends on the absolute number of neutrophils (AFN) and is described as follows:
* Mild neutropenia
when ACN falls below the lower limit of 1500 cells / μl, but still higher than 1000 cells / μl.
* Moderate neutropenia,
when ACHN is between 500 and 1000 cells / μl.
Severe neutropenia
when ACN falls below 500 cells / μl.
Neutropenia can have a short, temporary nature. For example, when antiviral therapy is performed, when neutropenia is reversible, and the amount of neutrophils is restored after the withdrawal of drugs that cause it. However, if the patient has neutropenia for an extended period, then there is a threat of chronic blood disease. The risk of infectious diseases increases if low neutrophils persist for more than three days. Typical infections are tonsillitis, throat diseases, gum infections and skin diseases. Any flu-like symptoms (body temperature above 38.5 °) should be taken very seriously. In this case, it is necessary to inform your doctor immediately. Severe neutropenia can lead to severe problems that may require surgical intervention.
How is neutropenia manifested?
Mostly infections occur in the lungs, mouth and throat area. Painful mouth ulcers, gum disease, ear infections, most often occur in patients with neutropenia. In patients, the development of infection can lead to serious, life-threatening complications. Therefore, regular monitoring of the level of leukocytes and ASC in the blood is required.
How to deal with neutropenia?
As a rule, to keep neutropenia under control, reduce the dose of interferon following the recommendations of the manufacturer of the drug, indicated on the package insert. Approximately 20% of patients taking pegylated interferon plus ribavirin need to reduce the dose of the drug to eliminate the resulting neutropenia. As a rule, reducing the dose improves the situation. In sporadic cases, complete cessation of treatment is required. Maintaining a maximum dose of interferon with ribavirin is very important for achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), so some experts prescribe a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ( Neupogenand other drugs) to combat severe cases of neutropenia caused by interferon treatment. The use of these drugs allows maintaining the recommended dose of an antiviral drug. However, the colony-stimulating factor has not been sufficiently studied to treat neutropenia caused by interferon.
How to reduce the risk of complications of neutropenia?
There are many ways, based on common sense, to reduce the risk of the disease while undergoing antiviral treatment, for example:
• Avoid places of congestion, especially of patients;
• Get vaccinated against influenza and other diseases;
• Thoroughly follow the rules of hygiene - wash your hands as often as possible;
• Don't seafood and raw eggs.
Remember that It can be treated with the help of medical specialists and that the treatment of neutropenia is a complicated process requiring the participation of a physician.
Neutropenia is a blood disease that can affect everyone. Some people are born with this. However, neutropenia can appear after a viral infection, be a side effect of drugs or exposure to certain medications. Neutropenia can be caused by insufficient production or accelerated destruction of white blood cells. Neutropenia can occur in the treatment of cancer, with chemotherapy, or antiviral therapy for viral hepatitis.
What are neutrophils?
Blood consists of billions of cells. There are many different types of blood cells, but the main ones are red and white blood cells. Erythrocytes (red blood cells) predominate over other types of blood cells. They are critical because they carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of your body. However, leukocytes(white blood cells) are just as important, but for an entirely different reason. One of their functions is to protect the body from infection. There are several types of white cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils. Each of them has a particular function. The most common of these are neutrophils, whose task is to identify and destroy bacteria, and lymphocytes, important for the immune system, as well as protection against viruses.
What is fraught with neutropenia?
The term "neutropenia" describes "a situation where the number of neutrophils in the blood is too low." Neutrophils play a significant role in protecting the body against bacterial infections and, consequently, patients with a low number of neutrophils are more susceptible to these infections. Every person continually faces an infection. This is because it is easy to get into the body of bacteria and viruses that cause infections. However, in healthy people, immunity can cope with these pathogens without causing disease. Neutrophils participate in the formation of this immunity. They are the primary protection against infections. Patients taking pegylated interferon have an increased risk of developing neutropenia. Clinical studies have shown that 95% of patients, antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin, the number of neutrophils is below average. 20% of them develop severe neutropenia. It is important to remember that in comparison with patients undergoing chemotherapy, the vast majority of patients with neutropenia caused by interferon intake, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections. However, even though the risk of developing a disease is low, patients undergoing antiviral therapy should be treated by a doctor to prevent severe neutropenia and an acute infection associated with it. In the overwhelming majority of patients with neutropenia caused by the use of interferon, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections. However, even though the risk of developing a disease is low, patients undergoing antiviral therapy should be under the continuous supervision of a doctor, to prevent severe neutropenia and an acute infection associated with it. In the overwhelming majority of patients with neutropenia caused by the use of interferon, contrary to expectations, there is no development of severe infections.
Severity of neutropenia
The level of neutrophils can be extensive. In the blood of healthy adults, 1500 to 7000 neutrophils are contained in a microlitre of blood plasma (1.5-7.0 x 10 3 cells / μl). The severity of neutropenia usually depends on the absolute number of neutrophils (AFN) and is described as follows:
* Mild neutropenia
when ACN falls below the lower limit of 1500 cells / μl, but still higher than 1000 cells / μl.
* Moderate neutropenia,
when ACHN is between 500 and 1000 cells / μl.
Severe neutropenia
when ACN falls below 500 cells / μl.
Neutropenia can have a short, temporary nature. For example, when antiviral therapy is performed, when neutropenia is reversible, and the amount of neutrophils is restored after the withdrawal of drugs that cause it. However, if the patient has neutropenia for an extended period, then there is a threat of chronic blood disease. The risk of infectious diseases increases if low neutrophils persist for more than three days. Typical infections are tonsillitis, throat diseases, gum infections and skin diseases. Any flu-like symptoms (body temperature above 38.5 °) should be taken very seriously. In this case, it is necessary to inform your doctor immediately. Severe neutropenia can lead to severe problems that may require surgical intervention.
How is neutropenia manifested?
Mostly infections occur in the lungs, mouth and throat area. Painful mouth ulcers, gum disease, ear infections, most often occur in patients with neutropenia. In patients, the development of infection can lead to serious, life-threatening complications. Therefore, regular monitoring of the level of leukocytes and ASC in the blood is required.
How to deal with neutropenia?
As a rule, to keep neutropenia under control, reduce the dose of interferon following the recommendations of the manufacturer of the drug, indicated on the package insert. Approximately 20% of patients taking pegylated interferon plus ribavirin need to reduce the dose of the drug to eliminate the resulting neutropenia. As a rule, reducing the dose improves the situation. In sporadic cases, complete cessation of treatment is required. Maintaining a maximum dose of interferon with ribavirin is very important for achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), so some experts prescribe a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ( Neupogenand other drugs) to combat severe cases of neutropenia caused by interferon treatment. The use of these drugs allows maintaining the recommended dose of an antiviral drug. However, the colony-stimulating factor has not been sufficiently studied to treat neutropenia caused by interferon.
How to reduce the risk of complications of neutropenia?
There are many ways, based on common sense, to reduce the risk of the disease while undergoing antiviral treatment, for example:
• Avoid places of congestion, especially of patients;
• Get vaccinated against influenza and other diseases;
• Thoroughly follow the rules of hygiene - wash your hands as often as possible;
• Don't seafood and raw eggs.
Remember that It can be treated with the help of medical specialists and that the treatment of neutropenia is a complicated process requiring the participation of a physician.
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