Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, And Types

Content

• Overview
• What is microcytic anemia?
• Microcytic vs. macrocytic anemia
• Symptoms of microcytic anemia
• What causes microcytic anemia
• How microcytic anemia is diagnosed
• Treatment 
• Prevention
• The lowdown

Anemia is any condition in which red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen to supply the body’s tissues. It comes in several types and is often (but not always) associated with iron deficiency.

One type of anemia is microcytic anemia.

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Microcytic anemia is a form of anemia that is characterized by smaller-than-normal red blood cells. These small blood cells are less functional and carry less oxygen in your blood. It is also called microcytosis.

Microcytic anemia stands in contrast to macrocytic anemia, which is characterized by larger-than-normal red blood cells which also do not function correctly. It is also called macrocytosis.

The similarity in the technical terms can sometimes cause confusion, especially as both are types of anemia and end up causing similar problems. However, they have very different causes.

In many cases, people with microcytosis have no symptoms. The condition is often found when you need a complete blood count for some other reason.

However, microcytic anemia is associated with iron deficiency anemia, which can cause the following symptoms:

• Lack of energy

• Shortness of breath

• Heart palpitations

• Pale complexion

Rarer symptoms include:

• Headaches

• Tinnitus

• Altered sense of taste

• Itchiness

• Sore or abnormally smooth tongue

• Pica or craving for non-food items such as ice, paper, or clay

• Hair loss

• Difficulty swallowing

• Ulcers on the corners of the mouth

• Spoon-shaped nails

Most people only have some of these symptoms, and anemia is typically diagnosed through a blood test.

Microcytic anemia is typically split into three subtypes with different causes.

Hypochromic microcytic anemia

In this form of anemia, the cells are small and also lighter than normal in color. Depleted iron reserves most often cause this form of anemia. Root causes include insufficient iron consumption, gut problems resulting in poor absorption, acute or chronic blood loss (such as from ulcers), or increased demand for iron. The latter is often associated with recovery from major trauma or surgery, but microcytosis is also known during pregnancy.

It is also a symptom of some hereditary anemia caused by the inability to absorb iron properly, resulting in low hemoglobin in the blood. 

Hypochromic microcytic anemia is also often associated with iron overload, where the iron that is not used accumulates in the liver, causing impaired function. This form of anemia is typically diagnosed in childhood.

Normochromic microcytic anemia

This means the cells are small but normal in color, having a normal amount of hemoglobin. This is most often found in people with certain diseases, which include HIV, endocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer. Because of this, it is more often found in older individuals.

Hyperchromic microcytic anemia

In hyperchromic microcytic anemia, the red blood cells have too much hemoglobin, resulting in a darker color. It is extremely rare and is caused by a condition known as hereditary spherocytosis. This condition also causes jaundice, an enlarged spleen, and an elevated risk of gallstones. 

Severe hereditary spherocytosis can result in life-threatening anemia and can delay sexual development and reduce stature. However, many people with the condition have very mild anemia or no symptoms.

Other causes

Microcytic anemia can also be caused by thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that affects your ability to produce normal hemoglobin. 

Thalassemia is more common in people from the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Sideroblastic anemia, which results from abnormal utilization of iron in your blood marrow, can also cause microcytosis.¹

Microcytic anemia can be a symptom of lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is less common than it used to be and is mostly caused by direct or indirect occupational exposure. Some other causes include too little copper, too much zinc, or excessive use of alcohol and drugs.

Microcytic anemia is most often diagnosed after a complete blood count is taken, often for other reasons. A CBC includes counting the number of red blood cells in a sample to see if there are too few, a classic sign of anemia. However, doctors also typically look at red blood cells under a microscope to assess their health and color.

The presence of asymptomatic anemia is more common than other diseases in complete blood counts, which are usually taken as part of an overall health check.

If you have a complete blood count done and you menstruate, make sure your doctor knows where in your cycle you are, as menstruation typically affects red blood cell counts.

If you have symptoms of anemia, such as pallor or lethargy, then your doctor may order a CBC to check for anemia. A CBC also assesses your white cell count; a low count may indicate autoimmunity or cancer, while a high one can indicate a hidden infection or a reaction to some medication you might be taking. This can be important information to assess the cause of your anemia.

Once a CBC indicates anemia, you may be referred to a hematologist, or blood specialist, to help diagnose and treat the specific type of microcytic anemia you have. They will also run blood tests to check for celiac disease, test your blood and stool for certain infections, or do imaging tests to look for a bleeding ulcer or other potential cause of chronic blood loss. You may be referred to a gynecologist if you also have unusually heavy periods or pelvic pain.

The majority of cases of microcytic anemia are caused by iron deficiency. If you have severe anemia symptoms or issues with your gut, your doctor may recommend an iron infusion. This means you receive iron supplementation by IV in a hospital. However, for most people, the treatment is oral iron supplementation. Vitamin C supplements may be added to help your body absorb iron better.

Your doctor may also refer you to a nutritionist to discuss long-term diet changes to increase your iron intake. 

Menstruation and pregnancy may both require iron supplementation.

Iron-rich foods include dark-green leafy vegetables, brown rice, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, tofu, eggs, and dried fruit. Some cereals are also fortified with iron. 

If you are vegetarian or vegan, you are more likely to have anemia because these diets contain less iron, and iron from plant sources is less bioavailable (harder to absorb).²

Vegetarians and vegans need to take special care to consume enough iron. Those who rely on plant sources of iron should consume 1.8 times the amount of iron recommended for those who get it from animal sources. Vegan iron supplements are also available.

In some cases, your anemia might be caused by an underlying condition. In this case, treating the underlying condition is important, not just increasing iron intake. 

For example, if your anemia is caused by failure to absorb iron in the gut as a result of inflammatory bowel disease, then the goal of treatment is to resolve that by, for example, the use of immunomodulators or corticosteroids. 

If you have thalassemia, you may need blood transfusions, depending on the severity of your condition. If an infectious disease causes your anemia, then the disease will have to be treated. Most people with HIV can avoid anemia by complying with their medication and treatment protocols.

In severe anemia, where your life might be in danger, you may have to receive a blood transfusion.

Do not increase iron if you have symptoms of anemia without talking to your doctor first. In some cases, you may be experiencing hemochromatosis, otherwise known as iron overload. The iron that is not being properly used by your blood is accumulating in your organs.

Increasing iron intake without addressing the cause of the overload can cause significant issues. You will need medication to remove the iron from your liver.

The best way to prevent microcytic anemia is to get enough iron in your diet. If you are vegetarian or vegan, you need to be particularly careful about your iron intake, as you are avoiding the best source, which is red meat and/or liver.

You may also want to increase iron intake if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. When pregnant, you share your blood supply with the fetus and need to make more hemoglobin, which requires more iron. Not getting enough iron can affect both you and the baby. 

Menstruating women also need more iron as they are losing blood. If you regularly experience mild anemia after periods and are not trying to get pregnant, consider going on oral contraceptives, which reduce heavy flow and blood loss. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Getting enough vitamin C also helps in the prevention of anemia. Vitamin C deficiency can aggravate anemia by making it hard to absorb enough iron. You can take a supplement or increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

Some doctors suggest increasing iron if you have symptoms of sluggishness and fatigue, as you may have very mild anemia, and addressing it can increase energy levels and mood.³

Always tell your doctor if you are taking iron supplements (or any other supplements).

You can also prevent anemia by being proactive about getting medical treatment for conditions, such as stomach ulcers, that can cause it. However, the best thing you can do to keep from developing any form of anemia is to eat enough iron.

There is no way to prevent hereditary conditions that cause anemia. Genetic counseling can help you determine if your future children may be at risk for one of these conditions and can help you make an educated decision about whether to have biological children if, for example, thalassemia runs in your family.

Microcytic anemia is a form of anemia in which your body produces red blood cells that are too small. It is most often caused by iron deficiency, which can be addressed with diet or by treating underlying conditions that cause it. More rarely, it can be the result of genetic conditions.

Preventing anemia is important, especially if you are pregnant or menstruating, and involves ensuring sufficient dietary iron intake. You can get iron from red meat, poultry, fish, and various plant-based sources. Be particularly careful about iron intake if you choose not to eat meat.

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle. ” The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious complications (health problems) such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.

Types of SCD

There are several types of SCD. The specific type of SCD a person has depends on the genes they inherited from their parents. People with SCD inherit genes that contain instructions, or code, for abnormal hemoglobin.

Below are the most common types of SCD:

HbSS

People who have this form of SCD inherit two genes, one from each parent, that code for hemoglobin “S.” Hemoglobin S is an abnormal form of hemoglobin that causes the red cells to become rigid, and sickle shaped. This is commonly called sickle cell anemia and is usually the most severe form of the disease.

HbSC

People who have this form of SCD inherit a hemoglobin “S” gene from one parent and a gene for a different type of abnormal hemoglobin called “C” from the other parent. This is usually a milder form of SCD.

Infographic: 5 Facts You Should Know About Sickle Cell Disease

Did you know SCD affects people from many parts of the world?

HbS beta thalassemia

People who have this form of SCD inherit a hemoglobin “S” gene from one parent and a gene for beta thalassemia, another type of hemoglobin abnormality, from the other parent. There are two types of beta thalassemia: “zero” (HbS beta⁰) and “plus” (HbS beta⁺). Those with HbS beta⁰-thalassemia usually have a severe form of SCD. People with HbS beta⁺-thalassemia tend to have a milder form of SCD.

There also are a few rare types of SCD, such as the following:

HbSD, HbSE, and HbSO

People who have these forms of SCD inherit one hemoglobin “S” gene and one gene that codes for another abnormal type of hemoglobin (“D”, “E”, or “O”). The severity of these rarer types of SCD varies.

Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)

HbAS

People who have sickle cell trait (SCT) inherit a hemoglobin “S” gene from one parent and a normal gene (one that codes for hemoglobin “A”) from the other parent. People with SCT usually do not have any of the signs of the disease. However, in rare cases, a person with SCT may develop health problems; this occurs most often when there are other stresses on the body, such as when a person becomes dehydrated or exercises strenuously. Additionally, people who have SCT can pass the abnormal hemoglobin “S” gene on to their children.

Learn more about sickle cell trait »

Cause of SCD

SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two genes—one from each parent—that code for abnormal hemoglobin.

Diagnosis

SCD is diagnosed with a simple blood test. In children born in the United States, it most often is found at birth during routine newborn screening tests at the hospital. In addition, SCD can be diagnosed while the baby is in the womb. Diagnostic tests before the baby is born, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis, can check for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in the baby. Chorionic villus sampling tests a tiny piece of the placenta, called chorionic villus. Amniocentesis tests a small sample of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.

Because children with SCD are at an increased risk of infection and other health problems, early diagnosis and treatment are important.

Talk to your doctor to find out how to get tested and to explain the results after testing.

SCD Fact Sheet

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Complications

People with SCD may start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age. Symptoms and complications of SCD are different for each person and can range from mild to severe. Learn about the complications.

Prevention and Treatment of SCD Complications

General Prevention Strategies

Management of SCD is focused on preventing and treating pain episodes and other complications. Prevention strategies include lifestyle behaviors as well as medical screening and interventions to prevent SCD complications.

Lifestyle Behaviors

There are simple steps that people with SCD can take to help prevent and reduce the occurrence of pain crises, including the following:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Try not to get too hot or too cold.
• Try to avoid places or situations that cause exposure to high altitudes (for example, flying, mountain climbing, or cities with a high altitude).
• Try to avoid places or situations with exposure to low oxygen levels (for example, mountain climbing or exercising extremely hard, such as in military boot camp or when training for an athletic competition).

Simple steps to prevent harmful infections include the following:

• Wash your hands often. Washing hands with soap and clean water many times each day is one of the best ways people with SCD, their family members, and other caregivers can help prevent an infection.
• Prepare food safely. Bacteria can be especially harmful to children with SCD.

Medical Screenings & Interventions to Prevent SCD Complications

Prevention of Infections

• Vaccines can protect against harmful infections. It is important that children with SCD get all regular childhood vaccines. Similarly, it is important for children and adults to get the flu vaccine every year, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine and any others recommended by a doctor.
• Penicillin greatly reduces the risk of infections in people with HbSS and has been shown to be even more effective when it is started earlier. To decrease the risk of infection, it’s important that young children with HbSS take penicillin (or other antibiotic prescribed by a doctor) every day until at least 5 years of age. Penicillin on a daily basis is usually not prescribed for children with other types of SCD unless the severity of the disease is similar to that of HbSS, such as HbS beta⁰-thalassemia.

Prevention of Vision Loss

• Yearly visits to an eye doctor to look for damage to the retina (the part of your eye that senses light and sends images to your brain) are important for people with SCD to avoid vision loss. If possible, it’s best to see an eye doctor who specializes in diseases of the retina.
• If the retina is damaged by excessive blood vessel growth, laser treatment often can prevent further vision loss.

Prevention of Stroke

• Children who are at risk for stroke can be identified using a special type of exam called transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). If the child is found to have an abnormal TCD, a doctor might recommend frequent blood transfusions (a procedure in which new blood is put into a person’s body through a small plastic tube inserted into a person’s blood vessels) to help prevent a stroke.
• People who have frequent blood transfusions are usually watched closely because there can be serious side effects. For example, because blood contains iron, transfusions can lead to a condition called iron overload, in which too much iron builds up in the body. Iron overload can cause life-threatening damage to the liver, heart, and other organs. Therefore, it is important for people with SCD receiving regular blood transfusions to also receive treatment to reduce excess iron in the body. This type of treatment is known as iron chelation therapy.

Prevention of Severe Anemia

• Blood transfusions may be used to treat severe anemia. A sudden worsening of anemia resulting from infection or enlargement of the spleen (an organ in the upper left side of the abdomen) is a common reason for a transfusion.
• As with preventing stroke, frequent blood transfusions can cause iron overload, and iron chelation therapy may be needed to reduce excess iron in the body.

Management of Pain Crises

When pain crises do occur, clinical management may include the following:

• Intravenous fluids (giving fluids directly into a person’s vein)
• Pain-reducing medicine
• Hospitalization for severe pain crises

Specific Treatments to Prevent SCD Complications

SCD is a disease that worsens over time. Treatments are available that can prevent complications and lengthen the lives of those who have this condition. These treatment options and their effects can be different for each person, depending on the symptoms and severity of their disease. It is important to understand the benefits and risks of each treatment option. Currently, the FDA has approved four treatments for SCD^[1].

• Hydroxyurea (pronounced “hi-DROK-see-yoo-REE-uh”) may help people with SCD ages 2 years and older. More information about hydroxyurea can be found here.
• L-glutamine (pronounced “L-gloo-ta-meen,”), or ENDARI® may help people with SCD ages 5 years and older. More information about L-glutamine can be found on page 2 here.
• Voxelotor (pronounced “vox-EL-o-tor”), or OXBRYTA® may help people with SCD ages 4 years and older. More information about Voxelotor can be found on the FDA website here.
• Crizanlizumab (pronounced “criz-an-liz-u-mab”), or ADAKVEO® may help people with SCD ages 16 years and older. More information about Crizanlizumab can be found on page 1 here.

Several other treatments and therapies for SCD have recently been developed that are still undergoing clinical trials and thus have not yet been approved by the FDA.

Cure

The only therapy approved by the FDA that may be able to cure SCD is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Bone marrow is a soft, fatty tissue inside the center of the bones, where blood cells are made. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant is a procedure that takes healthy cells that form blood from one person—the donor—and puts them into someone whose bone marrow is not working properly.

Bone marrow or stem cell transplants are very risky and can have serious side effects, including death. For the transplant to work, the bone marrow must be a close match. Usually, the best donor is a brother or sister. Bone marrow or stem cell transplants are most common in cases of severe SCD for children who have minimal organ damage from the disease.

Find clinical treatment guidelines for providers as well as patient and family resources derived from clinical treatment guidelines:

For Healthcare Providers

• Evidence-Based Management of Sickle Cell Disease: Expert Panel Report, 2014, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Clinical Practice Guidelines on Sickle Cell Disease, American Society of Hematology

For People with SCD and their Families

• Steps to Better Health for People with Sickle Cell Disease Toolkit

[1] CDC will periodically review and update this treatment list when new treatments are approved by the FDA.

What will blood cells tell? – Article by the pediatrician of the Children’s Polyclinic of the Literary Fund

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The blood contains different types of cells that perform completely different functions – from carrying oxygen to developing protective immunity. In order to understand changes in the blood formula in various diseases, it is necessary to know what functions each cell type performs.

Some of these cells never normally leave the bloodstream, while others, to fulfill their purpose, go to other tissues of the body, in which inflammation or damage is found.

Blood cells can be divided into red and white – erythrocytes and leukocytes. Erythrocytes throughout their life – about 120 days – circulate through the blood vessels and carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Erythrocytes make up the bulk of blood cells. In the process of their maturation, they are narrowly specialized to perform their most important function – supplying the tissues of the body with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.

To do this, they lose all “extra” cellular elements, acquire a special concave shape that allows them to penetrate into the smallest and most curved capillaries, and fill their cytoplasm with hemoglobin molecules that can reversibly bind oxygen. In various diseases, both the shape, size, number of red blood cells, and the level of hemoglobin can change. To make a correct diagnosis, it is sometimes necessary to carry out additional tests to detect abnormalities in the structure of the erythrocyte membrane or the presence of pathological forms of hemoglobin.

Leukocytes – white blood cells – fight infections and digest the remains of destroyed cells , leaving for this through the walls of small blood vessels in the tissue. Leukocytes are divided into three main groups: granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes.

Granulocytes include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Numerous vesicles and granules with biologically active contents are contained inside the granulocytes. Neutrophils trap, kill and digest bacteria. Basophils secrete histamine, which is involved in the inflammatory response. Eosinophils are involved in the destruction of parasites and in allergic reactions.

Monocytes, together with neutrophils, are the main “orderlies of the body”, since their main function is to remove fragments of old, obsolete, their own cells, and foreign elements. For this, monocytes, leaving the bloodstream, become macrophages, which are much larger in size and live longer than neutrophils.

Lymphocytes are the main cells that mediate the immune response. They are represented by two main classes:

1. B-lymphocytes produce antibodies,
2. T-lymphocytes kill virus-infected cells and regulate the activity of other white blood cells.

In addition, there are lymphocytes – natural killers that can kill tumor cells.

Platelets are present in the blood in large numbers. At their core, they are not ordinary whole cells, but are small cell fragments that have separated from the giant cells of megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes do not circulate in the blood, but are located in the bone marrow, where “cell plates” – platelets – are separated from them. Platelets are able to adhere to the inner surface of the damaged vessel, acting as a patch organizer, helping to restore the integrity of the vascular wall during blood clotting.

The formation and maturation of most blood cells (hematopoiesis) occurs in an adult in the bone marrow, where all the variety of blood cells is formed from a unique stem cell. Bone marrow is normally located in large bones of the human skeleton, such as the femur, pelvic bones, sternum, and some others. However, lymphoid cells mature outside the bone marrow – in the organs of the immune system, which are some parts of the intestinal mucosa, thymus, tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes. The number of cells of each type is formed in strict accordance with the needs of the body, for which there is a complex control. Therefore, changes in the blood test formula are of great diagnostic value. An experienced doctor, analyzing quantitative and qualitative changes in the analysis of peripheral blood, is able to understand among which pathological conditions a diagnostic search should be carried out.

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What is blood made of?

Erstellt am 2016/01/20, last modified: 2016/02/25

https://kinderkrebsinfo. de/doi/e158571

Contents

1. Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
2. Leukocytes (white blood cells)
3. Platelets (platelets)

Blood consists of 60% plasma. It is a yellowish-white liquid, which in turn consists mainly of water, as well as various proteins, salts, trace elements and vitamins. About 40% of the blood is made up of cells [cell], which are called blood cells or blood cells. There are three types of blood cells that are in it in different numbers and perform different tasks:

• red blood cells (erythrocytes)
• white blood cells (leukocytes)
• platelets (platelets)

Erythrocytes (red blood cells)

Most of the human blood contains erythrocytes, which are also called red blood cells or red blood cells. They make up 99% of all blood cells. In one microliter of blood (that is, in one millionth of a liter), there are from 4 to 6 million red blood cells.

The most important task of red blood cells is to carry vital oxygen (which enters the lungs) through the blood vessels to the organs and tissues of the body. They perform this task with the help of a red blood pigment – hemoglobin.

If the number of red blood cells in the blood is not enough, or if there is little hemoglobin in the red blood cells and therefore they cannot fully do their job, then we are talking about anemia, or anemia. “Anaemic” people often have very pale skin. Since their body does not receive enough oxygen, they also develop symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, decreased performance, headache or back pain.

The main thing in assessing the work of erythrocytes is, first of all, not their number in the blood, but their volume, the so-called hematocrit (reduction in Ht analyzes), and the level of hemoglobin (reduction in Hb analyzes). For infants, normal hemoglobin levels are between 10 and 16 g/dL, and hematocrit is between 30 and 49% ( see table for details) [KUL2002‎].

If these values ​​are significantly below normal and at the same time the child has symptoms of anemia [anemia], for example, due to leukemia, or after chemotherapy [chemotherapy], then a transfusion (transfusion) of red blood cell concentrate (erythrocyte mass, abbreviated “ermassa” ) to stabilize the condition of the child.

Child’s age	Hemoglobin (Hb) level in g/dl	Hematocrit (Hk) %
1 year	10.1 – 13.0	30 – 38
2 – 6 years	11. 0 – 13.8	32 – 40
6 – 12 years old	11.1 – 14.7	32 – 43
12 – 18 years old women	12.1 – 15.1	35 – 44
12 – 18 years old men	12. 1 – 16.6	35 – 49

Leukocytes (white blood cells)

White blood cells or white blood cells, which are also called leukocytes, together with platelets in healthy people, make up only 1% of all blood cells. A level of 5,000 to 8,000 leukocytes per microliter of blood is considered normal.

Leukocytes are responsible for the immune defense of the body. They recognize “strangers”, such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, and render them harmless. If there is an infection, the white blood cell count can rise dramatically in a short time. Thanks to this, the body quickly begins to fight pathogens.

White blood cells are divided into different groups depending on their appearance, the place in which they grew up, and how exactly they work. The largest group (from 60 to 70%) are the so-called granulocytes; from 20 to 30% – lymphocytes and from 2 to 6% – monocytes (“devourer cells”).

These three types of cells fight pathogens in different ways, while complementing each other’s work. It is only because they work in concert that the body is provided with optimal protection against infections. If the number of white blood cells decreases or they cannot function normally, for example in leukemia, then the body’s defense against “foreigners” (bacteria, viruses, fungi) can no longer be effective. Then the body begins to pick up various infections.

The total white blood cell count is measured in a blood test [blood test‎]. The characteristics of different types of white blood cells and their percentage can be examined in the so-called differential blood test (leukocyte formula).

Granulocytes

Granulocytes are primarily responsible for protecting the body from bacteria [bacteria]. They also protect against viruses, fungi and parasites (such as worms). And they are called so because there are grains (granules) in their cellular fluid. In the place where the infection appears, they instantly accumulate in large numbers and become the “first echelon”, which repels the attack of pathogens.

Granulocytes are the so-called phagocytes. They capture the enemy that has entered the body and digest it (phagocytosis). In the same way, they cleanse the body of dead cells. In addition, granulocytes are responsible for dealing with allergic and inflammatory reactions, and with the formation of pus.

The level of granulocytes in the blood is very important in the treatment of cancer. If during treatment their number becomes less than 500 – 1,000 in 1 microliter of blood, then, as a rule, the risk of infectious infections increases very much even from pathogens that are usually not dangerous at all for a healthy person.

Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are white blood cells, 70% of which are located in the tissues of the lymphatic system. Such tissues include, for example, the lymph nodes, the spleen, the pharyngeal tonsils (tonsils), and the thymus gland.

Groups of lymph nodes are located under the jaws, in the armpits, on the back of the head, in the groin area and in the lower abdomen. The spleen is an organ that is located in the left upper abdomen under the ribs; the thymus is a small organ behind the breastbone. In addition, lymphocytes are found in the lymph. Lymph is a colorless, watery fluid in the lymphatic vessels. It, like blood, embraces the whole organism with its branching

Lymphocytes play a major protective role in the immune system, as they are able to purposefully recognize and destroy pathogens. For example, they play an important role in viral infection. Lymphocytes “organize” the work of granulocytes, producing so-called antibodies in the body. Atitybodies are small protein molecules that attach to pathogens and thus mark them as “enemies” for phagocytes.

Lymphocytes recognize and destroy body cells affected by the virus, as well as cancer cells, and remember those pathogens with which they have already come into contact. Specialists distinguish between T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, which differ in their immunological characteristics, and also distinguish some other, rarer subgroups of lymphocytes.

Monocytes

Monocytes are blood cells that go into tissues and begin to work there as “large phagocytes” (macrophages), absorbing pathogens, foreign bodies and dead cells, and cleaning the body from them. In addition, they present part of the absorbed and digested organisms on their surface and thus activate lymphocytes for immune defense.

Platelets (platelets)

Platelets, also called platelets, are primarily responsible for stopping bleeding. If there is damage to the walls of the blood vessels, then they clog the damaged area in the shortest possible time and thus stop the bleeding.

Too low platelets (occurs, for example, in patients with leukemia) manifests itself in nosebleeds or bleeding gums, as well as in small hemorrhages on the skin.