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Mayo Clinic Talks

Lab Medicine Edition | CBC: White Blood Cell Count (WBC) (Leukocytosis, Leukopenia)

May 2, 2024
Renowned Mayo Clinic Hematologist Ronald S. Go, M.D. and host Andy J. Herber, P.A.-C. dive into the complexities of interpreting white blood cell counts in the complete blood count, discussing various causes of abnormalities like allergies, medications, and infections. They explore the effects of GCSF on post-chemo patients, management strategies for leukopenia, and the critical thresholds of neutrophil counts, emphasizing the importance of cautious interpretation and consistent CBC monitoring for patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
28:53

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Identifying predominant white cell types in leukocytosis through absolute counts aids in proper diagnosis.
  • Lymphopenia and monocytosis in CBC results indicate potential viral infections or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, requiring further evaluation.

Deep dives

Understanding Leukocytosis and Differentiating White Cell Types

Differentiating between elevated white cell types in leukocytosis is crucial for proper diagnosis. Dr. Ronald Go highlights the significance of looking at absolute counts rather than percentages to identify the predominant cell type. Neutrophilia is often linked to inflammatory conditions, spleen issues, or certain medications, while lymphocytosis may suggest infections like chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Monocytosis is associated with infections and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, with a threshold for consultation set at 1.0 absolute count.

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