Neutropenia is a medical term that refers to a decrease in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps the body defend itself against bacterial infections. An elevation of the liver enzymes usually signals damage to the liver,...
As defined by Mayo Clinic, neutropenia is a condition characterized by a low amount of neutrophils, the white blood cells responsible for fighting off infection. Due to a low neutrophil count, a person's immune system weakens, thus compromising...
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin required for healthy blood cells and nerves. Dietary animal products, such as fish and poultry, are the main source of B12, providing significantly larger amounts than the daily requirement of two to three...
White blood cells play a vital role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. Certain medical conditions can cause white cell levels to become low, a condition known as neutropenia. While mild...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can result because of bone marrow defects, infection or certain cancers such as leukemia. Neutropenia is frequently associated with the use of chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer....
White blood cells play an important role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading bacteria, viruses and other foreign material. Low white blood cell counts, a condition called neutropenia, is usually mild and asymptomatic....
Low white blood cell numbers, a condition known as neutropenia, results from a number of conditions such as infection, anemia and certain cancers. Neutropenia is often a side effect of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments that are toxic to...
White blood cells play an important role in the immune system as they scavenge the blood for invading bacteria and viruses. Individuals may become susceptible to infection when white blood cell levels become low, a condition known as neutropenia....
White blood cells play an important role in defending the body from bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders. Certain diseases such as cancer can cause white blood cell levels to become low, a condition known as neutropenia. Mild neutropenia...
A low white blood cell (WBC) count, known as leukopenia, can be caused by diseases such as leukemia, cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and some medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. Normal white blood count is 5,000 to 10,000 WBCs per...
White blood cells form an integral part of your immune system, helping your body both identify and destroy potentially dangerous particles. Low white blood cells — a condition called neutropenia — disarms your immune system, rendering...
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for several forms of cancer. Chemotherapy drugs are considered cytotoxic, which means that they are poisonous to cells. They prevent and interfere with a range important cellular processes that are required for...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are the portion of the blood responsible for fighting infections. There are five types of white blood cells--neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes--and each plays an important...
White blood cells (WBC) are the first line of defense when an infection develops in the body. According to the Franklin Institute, white blood cells act as the body's security guards, patrolling the body through the bloodstream, on the lookout for...
The blood is made up of a number of cell types, each with their own distinct appearance and function within the body. Blood cells develop from a population of stem cells within the bone marrow. These cells divide and mature to give rise to...
White blood cells, or WBC, are produced in the bone marrow and are the disease-fighting cells of the body. According to MedLinePlus, a low WBC count, also called leukopenia or neutropenia, is when the concentration of white blood cells in the body...
Cancer develops when normal cells within the body begin to proliferate rapidly and uncontrollably, giving rise to unlimited numbers of cells and forming tumors. Cancer therapies aim to remove cancerous tumors through surgery, and/or control...
Breast cancer often requires aggressive drug treatment, as uncontrolled breast cancer growth can prove fatal. Breast cancer treatment typically involves surgery to remove all or part of the affected breast, along with radiation therapy or...
Cancer patients commonly suffer from low blood counts. Typically chemotherapy treatments are to blame. Chemotherapy affects both cancer cells and normal body cells, including blood cells. Chemotherapy attacks rapidly growing cells. Blood cells...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can be a serious medical condition leading to chronic or fatal infections. White cell levels can reach low levels in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, as many chemotherapeutic...
Like the security system that protects a house, the bone marrow produces white blood cells to protect the body against bacterial or fungal invaders. The Mayo Clinic says these white blood cells must a reach a specific quantitative low of 3,500...
White blood cells function to protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. For the immune system to function properly, the body needs a sufficient number of white blood cells. Normally, stem cells in the...
Chemotherapy drugs are designed to attack fast-growing cancer cell. However, chemotherapy drugs not only affect cancer cells, but normal cells as well. Because blood cells multiply rapidly just like cancer cells, they are damaged during...
Antiplatelets are medications that prevent blood from clotting. According to the American Heart Association, blood clots can block the flow of blood to the heart and brain, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Doctors prescribe antiplatelets to...
A low white blood cell count manifests in one of two conditions: leukopenia or neutropenia. In leukopenia, the total overall number of white blood cells decreases, while neutropenia involves a low count of the most abundant type of white blood...
While not typically thought of as treatment for a disease, nutrition is important in developing and maintaining health. During a serious illness like cancer, nutrition can become a supplemental therapy to build strength and increase the likelihood...
Over 40,000 children and adults in the United States are diagnosed with the blood cancer leukemia each year. Damaged and malignant white cells growing in the bone marrow are the starting point for leukemia. White blood cells eventually overwhelm...
As defined by Drugs.com, Valtrex is a branded antiviral drug, also known as valcyclovir, that is used for the treatment of infection caused by herpes virus, including herpes labialis, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, and chickenpox in children and...
Low white blood cell counts, a condition known as neutropenia, can occur as a result of certain diseases or as a side effect to medications, particularly cancer chemotherapy. Fortunately, several drugs have been developed that safely and...
