Lymphocytes, the rate of which varies with age, played an important role in the human body. To be able to monitor your health, you need to figure out what the cells in the assay.
What do the lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are the blood cells that play an important role in the body. They recognize foreign antigens and provide proper immunity. Lymphocytes in the body responsible for the following:
- identifying agents that pose a threat;
- Recognition of the type of "friend or foe";
- antibody synthesis;
- destruction of foreign cells;
- implementation of immune memory;
- the destruction of their own defective mutant cells.
they also provide an immune response for transplantation of foreign tissues and organs. Because of this feature, graft rejection occurs, so its name can not be positive.
what are the
Lymphocytes in the blood are 3 types:
- T-lymphocytes. The main type of immune cell is almost 70% of the total weight. Responsible for the removal of viruses, tumors and their own damaged cellular structures.
- B-lymphocytes. Formed humoral reactions carried out using antibodies. Can move in the fabric to provide local immunity and developing into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
- Natural killer cells (NK). Detects and eliminates defective cells - tumor infected with bacteria and viruses.
How to get tested
Set the number of lymphocytes helps CBC. The doctor punctures a finger or vein and produces a fence material. In young children, the blood can be taken from the heel.
Index abbreviated LYM, LYMPH and LY. It is measured in liters or in percentage.
Tips for blood tests on lymphocytes:
- 10-12 hours before the clinical trial is forbidden to eat, so the blood pass in the first half of the day (12.00). On infants this rule does not apply, ie. A. They can not last long without food. Except it is also occasions when you need to check the indicator regularly.
- It is necessary to give up not only food, but also from juices, sodas, hot drinks. 1-2 hours prior to assay even undesirable to drink water.
- Within 1 day before the study can not drink alcohol, fatty and spicy dishes. For 2 chasa to exclude the intake of nicotine (in t. H. contained in the chewing gum, patches, and so on. d.).
- Better donate blood before treatment (pharmacological, physiotherapeutic et al.) Or 14 days after. If this is not possible, it is necessary to inform the doctor or technician of the therapy.
Normal values for age
When growing up rate of lymphocytes in the blood is changing in the direction of decreasing. Therefore, doctors take into account this factor, analyzing the results of laboratory studies. Children's body more vulnerable, so the concentration in immune cells it is much higher than in the adult. The older the child becomes, the less LYMPH found in his blood. Starting with 18, the rate drops to the level of an adult.
The representatives of different sexes LYM content in the bloodstream the same way. Therefore, gender identity is not considered.
What is the rate of women
Table norm in women by age:
| Age | Lymphocytes: the norm for women, * 10⁹ / l |
| From 15 to 50 years | 1-4,8 |
| Women after 50 years | It remains almost the same |
Norma lymphocytes women should remain within acceptable values, even if the hormonal changes. During pregnancy, there is a decrease in cell number, ie. To. It is necessary to protect the fetus and the pregnancy maintenance. The danger is a strong indicator of the change: the deviation in the smaller side is fraught with decline in immune defense, and more - miscarriage. To avoid this scenario, the number of lymphocytes in the blood should be controlled (especially 1 and 2 trimesters).
Increasing the level of cells observed at different stages of the menstrual cycle, r. H. during PMS.
men
The norm of lymphocytes in the stronger sex is the same as in women. From 16 to 65 years, the relative number of cells in the blood of 19-37%, and the absolute - 1-4,8 * 10⁹ / l.
After reaching the age of 65 index varies only slightly or remained the same (provided that the person is healthy). Expressed deviations indicate the presence of pathological processes in t. H. arising from the aging of the organism.
children
figure is the maximum possible at the child's birth. It then decreases as they grow older:
- up to 1 year - 2-11 * 10⁹ / l (45 to 70%);
- from 1 to 2 - 3-9 (from 40 to 60%);
- from 2 to 4 years - 2-8 (from 33 to 50%);
- from 4 to 10 years - 1,5-6,8 (30 to 50%).
Since the age of 10, the rate drops to lymphocytes 1,2-5,2 * 10⁹ / l (30 to 44%).
The causes of variances
Blood lymphocytes deviates from the normal range for various reasons. Most often this occurs because of the pathological processes occurring.
elevated levels
If the number of lymphocytes increases against the backdrop of poor health, which means that the person is ill. Diagnosis is made on the background of existing symptoms, and if this is not possible, under further investigation.
Increase of lymphocytes in general blood test indicates the presence of the following diseases:
- Infectious. After contact with pathogens in the body immune system generates large amounts of T-killer cells and natural killer cells, which leads to the development of reactive lymphocytosis. It is caused by influenza, herpes, chickenpox, rubella, measles, mumps, whooping cough, hepatitis, adenovirus infection, infectious mononucleosis.
- Bacterial, protozoan. Lymphocytes increased in diseases such as syphilis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, brucellosis. Sometimes the figure remains in the normal range, that is. To. The bacteria are destroyed by other leukocytes.
- Autoimmune. Lymphocytosis occurs when the immune system takes native cells as foreign invaders and attacks them. This occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Pathology of lymphatic and hematopoietic systems (r. H. malignant). Deviation from normal blood lymphocytes occurs with chlamydia, multiple myeloma, lymphosarcoma, lymphoma, lymphoblastic leukemia (acute and chronic).
Most often, the lymphocytes in the blood of adults and children are growing up with the disease. But sometimes, the level remains elevated during the recovery period and beyond. This pathology is called post-infectious lymphocytosis.
There are other reasons for the growth of cells occurs:
- continued use of carbohydrate foods, observance of strict diets, starvation;
- increased physical activity;
- bad habits (smoking and addiction to alcohol), drug abuse;
- medication using phenytoin, levodopa, certain antibiotics and anesthetics;
- the use of a number of vaccines;
- trauma;
- a deficiency of vitamin B12;
- intoxication with carbon disulfide, lead, arsenic and other toxins;
- radiation injuries;
- long stay in the highlands;
- allergic reactions;
- stress, neurasthenia;
- premenstrual syndrome in women;
- development of oncological diseases;
- disruptions to the endocrine system;
- resection of the spleen.
Changing the level of lymphocytes in the adult and the child is permanent or temporary. In the latter case the indicator is stabilized after the cause - trauma, infection, medication, and so forth..
reduced level
Low lymphocytes in the blood analysis indicate the presence of lymphopenia. The condition occurs for the following reasons:
- serious infections that deplete immune cells;
- neoplasms of lymphoid tissue;
- bone marrow diseases;
- anemia;
- exposure to radiation;
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
- severe renal and heart failure;
- neuroleptic treatment, corticosteroids, cytostatics;
- irregularities in the renal and chronic liver disease;
- during pregnancy.
Lymphopenia may be temporary. Monitor the status of the body helps the blood test. If a person recovers from the infection, the study shows an increase LYMPH.
Permanent lymphopenia occurs in violation of the production of immune cells. Deficiency of antibodies available in hereditary and congenital pathologies, such as immunodeficiency syndrome Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, stem cell aplasia.
The more dangerous deviations
If a male or female LYMPH level changes, should determine the cause of this phenomenon. Failure to do so creates the risk that the pathological processes will progress. If no action is taken in time, can bring to the development of complications or death.
a relative measure
If analysis shows an adult or a child change in the relative index, which means that changed the number of lymphocytes in the total white blood cell count.
If the results indicate an increase in lymphocytes and a decrease NEUT, no need to worry. In that case it requires an estimate of the absolute level LYMPH.
absolute figure
At absolute lymphocytosis LYM concentration varies. The percentage of lymphocytes in the total white blood cells is often the same.
The greatest danger is the reduction in the absolute figure LYMPH (especially in children and pregnant women).
cells drawback makes combating pathogens less effective, so the body is easily infected, and available disease progresses.
how to normalize
To return to normal cells, need to find out the cause of their increase or decrease. If this has happened because of illness, you need to throw all the forces at her treatment. At the end of lymphocytosis therapy will take place on their own.
To eliminate the infection used anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial drugs. It is necessary to help the body to make the fight against pathogens more efficiently. Self-help measures include eating right, drinking plenty of fluids, regular room ventilation, restful sleep. LYMPH reduced immediately after recovery, or a few months.
When it comes to serious diseases (leukemia, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and mononucleosis t. D.), Their treatment takes longer. Sometimes medications hinder the development of the pathological process, but do not eliminate it. Treatment regimens are developed by doctors. They may include radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as the various operations.
Increase the concentration of lymphocytes helps correct diet (eating lean protein, high in zinc and beta-carotene foods, green tea), exercise, proper rest, avoiding harmful habits, minimizing stress. All of this does not help, if the decline LYM caused any illness. In this case, the force should be sent to the treatment of the pathology that caused the deviation.
Avoid development of lymphocytosis and lymphopenia possible if monitor their own health. Prevention is to strengthen the body and immune system. It includes proper nutrition, observance of sleep and rest, regular physical stress, smoking cessation and alcohol use, early treatment of infectious and other diseases.
