Monocytes are normal. Why are monocytes elevated in the blood, what does this mean? Monocytes are normal for age

This article was written using specialized medical literature. All material used has been analyzed and presented in easy-to-understand language with minimal use of medical terms. The purpose of this article was an accessible explanation of the meaning of a general blood test and interpretation of its results.

If you have identified a deviation from the norm in a general blood test and want to learn more about the possible causes, then click on the selected blood value in the table - this will allow you to go to the selected section.

The article provides detailed information about the norms of cellular elements for each age. Deciphering a blood test in children requires special attention. Normal blood levels in children depend on age, so accurate information about the child's age is necessary to interpret the results of a blood test. You can find out about age standards from the tables below - separate for each blood test indicator.

We all have had a general blood test at least once in our lives. And every person was faced with a misunderstanding about what was written on the form, what did all these numbers mean? How to understand why this or that indicator is increased or decreased? What could be the risk of an increase or decrease, for example, in lymphocytes? Let's look at everything in order.

General blood test norms

Hemoglobin

Red blood cell count

Total white blood cell count

Hematocrit

MCH, MCHC, MCV, color index (CPU)- norm

Color Index (CPU)- This is a classic method for determining the hemoglobin concentration in red blood cells. Currently, it is gradually being replaced by the MCH index in blood tests. These indices reflect the same thing, only expressed in different units.

Leukocyte formula

Types of leukocytes, normal

In order to find out the age norm, click on the name of the leukocyte from the table.

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Monocytes

Basophils

Causes of increased blood basophils

• decreased thyroid hormone levels hypothyroidism
• chicken pox
• food and drug allergies
• condition after removal of the spleen
• treatment with hormonal drugs (estrogens, drugs that reduce the activity of the thyroid gland)

Lymphocytes

Platelets

Causes of increased platelets

• splenectomy
• inflammatory processes (exacerbation of rheumatism,

Monocytes are blood cells, one of the types of leukocytes. They do not have a specific granularity and contain a simple, unsegmented nucleus. Among other leukocytes, monocytes are the largest in size.

Bone marrow produces cells. From there they enter the bloodstream in an immature form. It is immature monocytes that have the greatest phagocytic activity - the ability to bind microbial test cultures on their surface, absorb and digest them.

The intensity of cell production depends on glucocorticoids - hormones of the adrenal cortex.

A decrease or increase in monocytes often indicates that pathologies are present in the body. It is possible that this condition is also caused by physiological reasons.

The importance of monocytes in the female body

In a woman's body, monocytes perform vital functions. They:

Monocytes are irreplaceable, because they can do what other types of leukocytes cannot do: absorb pathogens in a highly acidic environment.

Abnormal cell levels weaken the body because the efficiency of white blood cells decreases. They cannot fully resist viruses and microbes.

The norm of monocytes in the blood of women

The optimal concentration of monocytes is almost independent of age. Before puberty, it should be between three and nine percent. After turning sixteen, the upper limit rises.

The standard content of monocytes in female blood is (%):

• minimum – 3.0;
• maximum – 11.0.

The number of monocytes can also be measured in absolute units - appropriate techniques have been developed for this purpose. They allow you to count the number of cells in one liter of blood. The results are recorded as follows: Mon# *** x10 9 /l.

The quantitative norm is from 0.09 to 0.70 (10 9 / l).

The proportion of monocytes changes under the influence of such physiological factors as:

• emotional overload and stress;
• surgical intervention;
• taking certain medications;
• stomach full of food;
• phase of the menstrual cycle.

Recipe for the occasion::

The biorhythms of a particular individual also affect fluctuations in the level of monocytes within normal limits.

Monocytes during pregnancy

The blood composition of a pregnant woman must be kept under constant control in order to monitor the health of the expectant mother and her baby.

Pregnancy changes the blood cell ratio somewhat. Indeed, during its course, a restructuring occurs in the female body: the conditions for the functioning of the endocrine and immune systems change. This is necessary in order to prepare for the growth of the fetus and ensure its proper development.

Already in the first trimester, the number of cells that form the leukocyte formula in women’s blood decreases. Therefore, the norm of monocytes for expectant mothers is set in the range from one to eleven percent. That is, the lower limit is reduced by three times.

This value of the norm also takes into account the fact that the body is depleted during childbirth. But after a few weeks, everything in the female body stabilizes, including the level of monocytes.

Deviation of monocytes from the norm

Monocytes are elevated

Exceeding the norm by monocytes (monocytosis) occurs when infectious and viral agents enter the body, causing various pathologies.

The main reasons for this condition are the following:

• Infectious diseases. They can take place in a chronic form and periodically stimulate an increase in the proportion of monocytes in the totality of leukocytes.
• Gastrointestinal ailments.
• Viral and fungal diseases.
• Some types of leukemia.
• Benign diseases of the lymphatic system: lymphogranulomatosis, lymphoma.
• Collagenosis.

The level of monocytes increases sharply after abdominal surgery.

Monocytosis is often observed in patients who have suffered a serious illness and are already recovering.

The cause of the increase in cell levels may be severe poisoning from tetrachloroethane or phosphorus.

There are two types of deviation of monocytes from the norm:

• Relative. There is an increase in the proportion of monocytes above 11%. However, their total amount in the blood remains normal.
• Absolute. The number of cells exceeds the maximum level. That is, there are more monocytes than 0.70 x10 9 /l.

Both types of monocytosis require the supervision of a doctor who will determine the causes and prescribe therapy.

Monocytes are low

A decrease in the level of monocytes by just 1% is a serious deviation from the norm.

The symptom is called monocytopenia, and it can be caused by:

• physiological;
• pathological.

A decrease in monocytes due to physiological reasons is not considered a deviation from the norm. Cell levels may drop:

• in pregnant women and women in labor;
• during fasting, stress and pain shock.

Pathological causes include:

• Severe infectious diseases that are accompanied by a decrease in neutrophils - the most numerous type of leukocytes.
• Anemia: aplastic and folate deficiency. These ailments most often provoke a decrease in monocytes.
• Radiation sickness occurs as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation.
• Therapy using glucocorticosteroid drugs and cytostatics.
• Hairy cell leukemia is a variant of chronic leukemia. The disease develops slowly, manifests itself after 40, but is less common in women than in men.

An extremely dangerous symptom is the complete absence of monocytes in the blood. Their disappearance can be caused by:

• severe leukemia - with its development, the production of monocytes stops;
• sepsis is a general infection of the body by pathogenic microbes that have entered the blood. In this state, monocytes are destroyed under their influence. There are too few cells left to cleanse the blood.

But diagnosing yourself on your own is, to say the least, stupid. Only a doctor can do this by comparing the analysis results with standard values, examination data, medical history, and indicators of additional tests and examinations.

The rate of monocytes in the blood of women does not change with age; the indicator is determined by the number of cells per liter of blood, written mon #*109 per liter. A general blood test allows you to adequately assess the patient’s health status.

Monocytes are white blood cells that perform the body's protective function against pathogenic microorganisms. Monocytes also destroy dead cells and prevent the formation of blood clots and malignant tumors.

It is important to correctly decipher monocytes; the norm in women is determined as a percentage and can vary from 1 to 10%.

Physiological role

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell, have the largest size among cells and act as a cleanser for the body. Leukocytes and monocytes interact, the first detect viruses or bacteria, the others neutralize and remove them from the body. These cells belong to agranulocytes and are produced by the bone marrow.

A blood test can reveal pathological changes in the body.

White cells effectively influence the immune system:

• destroy and neutralize foreign agents;
• help start the process of necrosis in cancer cells;
• restore tissue after damage by inflammation or malignant formations;
• prevent foreign bacteria from entering the body;
• remove destroyed or dead cells.

The physiological role of monocytes is irreplaceable; these cells are able to absorb pathogenic bacteria even with increased acidity.

Therefore, an increase in the level of monocytic cells in the blood weakens the body’s protective function; they cease to block the entry of viruses and bacteria.

Taking blood and interpreting the analysis will allow us to identify a pathogenic abnormality and prescribe adequate therapy.

Normal white blood cell levels indicate good health. Doctors consider an increase or decrease in the number of cells as a symptom of some disease.

There is a special table for correctly deciphering the blood test. In children under thirteen years of age, the range ranges from 0.05 to 1.1%, after adulthood it changes to 0.04–0.8* 109 per liter of blood. When examining monocytes, the norm in women ranges from 3 to 11 percent.

Age does not affect the result of the analysis, but the following factors play a role:

• stressful situations, emotional stress;
• use of certain medications;
• surgical intervention;
• eating high-calorie foods;
• menstruation.

Fluctuations in the level of monocytes in each individual person are observed under the influence of biorhythms.

Deviations from the norm

Doctors call an increased number of monocytes monocytosis, which is diagnosed during the penetration of viruses or infections into the body.

In this case, pathological processes develop, the causes of which may be:

• infectious diseases that occur in a chronic form and cause the growth of blood cells;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• viruses, fungal pathogens;
• malignant disorders of the lymphatic system;
• intoxication with chemicals.

The growth of monocytes is observed after surgery, due to serious illnesses.

There are two types of violation:

1. Relative, when the proportion of monocytes rises to more than 11%, but the total number remains normal.
2. Absolute deviations are when the level of white cells exceeds the maximum level, mon 0.70*109/liter of blood.

All deviations require additional examination of the female body in order to correctly determine the cause of the pathology, then treatment is prescribed.

A decrease in the level of white cells in the blood is called monocytopenia and develops against the background of pathological or physiological abnormalities.

A decrease in cells of a physiological nature does not cause concern to doctors. More often observed in pregnant women, following diets, after painful shock. Over time, the level of monocytes stabilizes.

Pathological disorders are observed for the following reasons:

• Severe infectious diseases cause a drop in neutrophil levels;
• against the background of anemia;
• radiation sickness, after ionizing radiation the number of monocytes decreases;
• chronic leukemia, most often observed in men after forty years.

The most dangerous phenomenon is the complete absence of monocytes, which is called agranulocytosis.

This pathology is caused by serious diseases:

1. Severe leukemia, a late-stage disease that stops the functionality of white cells.
2. Sepsis, when pathogenic microbes infect the entire body, destroy monocytes, their low level is not able to cope with bacteria.

It is very important to regularly take a complete blood count for pregnant women. Blood tests allow you to monitor the condition of the mother and fetus.

While carrying a child, the female body undergoes restructuring. A woman’s hormonal background changes, the functionality of the immune and endocrine systems changes.

Such changes are necessary for normal labor.

Already in the first months of pregnancy, the level of white cells decreases, but after childbirth everything returns to normal when the woman fully recovers. During pregnancy and childbirth, the body is depleted, which causes abnormalities in the blood.

Treatment of pathology

A general blood test allows you to assess the patient's health status. Blood is drawn from a finger and the procedure is done in the morning on an empty stomach. To avoid false results, you must follow the recommendations of a specialist. If a deviation from the norm is diagnosed, it is important to exclude unfavorable factors and carry out the manipulation again. The result can be affected by physical activity, stressful situations, and poor nutrition.

If the disorder is critical, specialists determine the presence of infection and may perform a bone marrow puncture.

Treatment is prescribed after the correct diagnosis has been established. For infectious diseases, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs are prescribed.

For leukemia, special chemotherapy is performed. During treatment of the disease, blood samples are taken regularly to adequately assess the patient's condition.

It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on the results of a blood test; additional examinations and a study of the medical history are required.

It is forbidden to treat the disorder yourself; it is important to consult a specialist. If alarming symptoms appear, it is necessary to take a blood test; deciphering monocytes will allow you to assess your health status.

Monocytes play an important role in the functionality of the immune system and fight foreign agents in the body. Deviation from the norm requires a detailed examination of the patient in order to prevent severe pathology.

Treatment of the disease in the first stages will completely cure the disease and prevent serious complications.

Monocytes are the “janitors” of the human body. The largest blood cells have the ability to capture and absorb foreign substances with virtually no harm to themselves. Unlike other leukocytes, monocytes extremely rarely die after a collision with dangerous guests and, as a rule, safely continue to fulfill their role in the blood. An increase or decrease in these blood cells is an alarming symptom and may indicate the development of a serious disease.

What are monocytes and how are they formed?

Monocytes are a type of agranulocytic leukocyte (white blood cell). This is the largest element of the peripheral blood flow - its diameter is 18-20 microns. The oval-shaped cell contains one eccentrically located polymorphic bean-shaped nucleus. Intense staining of the nucleus makes it possible to distinguish a monocyte from a lymphocyte, which is extremely important in the laboratory assessment of blood parameters.

In a healthy body, monocytes make up 3 to 11% of all white blood cells. These elements are also found in large quantities in other tissues:

• liver;
• spleen;
• Bone marrow;
• The lymph nodes.

Monocytes are synthesized in the bone marrow, where their growth and development are influenced by the following substances:

• Glucocorticosteroids inhibit the production of monocytes.
• Cell growth factors (GM-CSF and M-CSF) activate the development of monocytes.

From the bone marrow, monocytes penetrate into the bloodstream, where they remain for 2-3 days. After a specified period, the cells either die through traditional apoptosis (cell death programmed by nature), or move to a new level - they turn into macrophages. The improved cells leave the bloodstream and enter the tissues, where they remain for 1-2 months.

Monocytes and macrophages: what is the difference?

In the 70s of the last century, it was believed that all monocytes sooner or later turn into macrophages, and there are no other sources of “professional janitors” in the tissues of the human body. In 2008 and later, new studies were conducted that showed that macrophages are heterogeneous. Some of them actually originate from monocytes, while others arise from other progenitor cells even at the stage of intrauterine development.

The transformation of some cells into others follows a programmed pattern. Coming out of the bloodstream into the tissue, monocytes begin to grow, and the content of internal structures - mitochondria and lysosomes - increases. Such rearrangements allow monocyte macrophages to perform their functions as efficiently as possible.

Biological role of monocytes

Monocytes are the largest phagocytes in our body. They perform the following functions in the body:

• Phagocytosis. Monocytes and macrophages have the ability to recognize and capture (absorb, phagocytose) foreign elements, including dangerous proteins, viruses, and bacteria.
• Participation in the formation of specific immunity and protection of the body from dangerous bacteria, viruses, fungi through the production of cytotoxins, interferon and other substances.
• Participation in the development of allergic reactions. Monocytes synthesize some elements of the complement system, due to which antigens (foreign proteins) are recognized.
• Antitumor protection (provided by the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor and other mechanisms).
• Participation in the regulation of hematopoiesis and blood clotting due to the production of certain substances.

Monocytes, along with neutrophils, belong to professional phagocytes, but have distinctive features:

• Only monocytes and their special form (macrophages) do not die immediately after absorbing a foreign agent, but continue to perform their immediate task. Losing a fight against dangerous substances is extremely rare.
• Monocytes live much longer than neutrophils.
• Monocytes are more effective against viruses, while neutrophils deal mainly with bacteria.
• Due to the fact that monocytes are not destroyed after a collision with foreign substances, pus does not form in places where they accumulate.
• Monocytes and macrophages are capable of accumulating in areas of chronic inflammation.

Determination of the level of monocytes in the blood

The total number of monocytes is displayed as part of the leukocyte formula and is included in the complete blood count (CBC). The material for research is taken from a finger or from a vein. Blood cell counting is carried out manually by a laboratory assistant or using special devices. The results are issued on a form, which must indicate the standards adopted for a particular laboratory. Different approaches to determining the number of monocytes can lead to discrepancies, so it is imperative to take into account where and how the analysis was taken, as well as how the blood cells were counted.

Normal value of monocytes in children and adults

During hardware decoding, monocytes are designated MON; during manual decoding, their name does not change. The norm of monocytes depending on the age of a person is presented in the table:

The normal value of monocytes does not differ between women and men. The level of these blood cells does not depend on gender. In women, the number of monocytes increases slightly during pregnancy, but remains within the physiological norm.

In clinical practice, not only the percentage, but also the absolute content of monocytes per liter of blood matters. The norm for adults and children is as follows:

• Up to 12 years – 0.05-1.1*10 9 /l.
• After 12 years – 0.04-0.08*10 9 /l.

Reasons for the increase in monocytes in the blood

An increase in monocytes above the threshold value for each age group is called monocytosis. There are two forms of this condition:

• Absolute monocytosis- this is a phenomenon when there is an isolated growth of monocytes in the blood, and their concentration exceeds 0.8 * 10 9 / l for adults and 1.1 * 10 9 / l for children under 12 years of age. A similar condition is recorded in some diseases that provoke the specific production of professional phagocytes.
• Relative monocytosis- a phenomenon in which the absolute number of monocytes remains within normal limits, but their percentage in the bloodstream increases. This condition occurs when the level of other white blood cells decreases simultaneously.

In practice, absolute monocytosis is a more alarming sign, since it usually indicates serious problems in the body of an adult or child. The relative increase in monocytes is often transient.

What does an excess of monocytes indicate? First of all, it means that phagocytosis reactions have started in the body, and there is an active fight against foreign invaders. The following conditions can cause monocytosis:

Physiological causes of monocytosis

In all healthy people, monocytes increase slightly in the first two hours after eating. It is for this reason that doctors recommend donating blood exclusively in the morning and on an empty stomach. Until recently, this was not a strict rule, and a general blood test with determination of the leukocyte formula was allowed to be done at any time of the day. Indeed, the increase in monocytes after a meal is not so significant and usually does not exceed the upper threshold, but the risk of incorrect interpretation of the result still remains. With the introduction into practice of devices for automatic decoding of blood, sensitive to the slightest changes in cellular composition, the rules for taking the test were revised. Today, doctors of all specialties insist that the OAC be taken on an empty stomach in the morning.

High monocytes in women occur in some special situations:

Menstruation

In the first days of the cycle, healthy women experience a slight increase in the concentration of monocytes in the blood and macrophages in the tissues. This is explained quite simply - it is during this period that active rejection of the endometrium occurs, and “professional janitors” rush to the hearth to perform their immediate duties. The growth of monocytes is observed at the peak of menstruation, that is, on the days of the most heavy discharge. After the monthly bleeding is completed, the level of phagocyte cells returns to normal.

Important! Although the number of monocytes during menstruation usually does not go beyond the normal range, doctors do not recommend taking a complete blood count until the end of your monthly discharge.

Pregnancy

The restructuring of the immune system during pregnancy leads to low levels of monocytes in the first trimester, but then the picture changes. The maximum concentration of blood cells is recorded in the third trimester and before birth. The number of monocytes usually does not exceed the age norm.

Pathological causes of monocytosis

Conditions in which monocytes are so elevated that they are determined in a general blood test to be outside the normal range are considered pathological and require mandatory consultation with a doctor.

Acute infectious diseases

The growth of professional phagocytes is observed in various infectious diseases. In a general blood test, the relative number of monocytes in ARVI slightly exceeds the threshold values ​​​​accepted for each age. But if during a bacterial infection there is an increase in neutrophils, then in the event of a viral attack, monocytes enter the battle. A high concentration of these blood elements is recorded from the first days of illness and persists until complete recovery.

• After all symptoms subside, monocytes remain high for another 2-4 weeks.
• If an elevated monocyte count is recorded for 6-8 weeks or more, a source of chronic infection should be sought.

With a common respiratory infection (cold), the level of monocytes increases slightly and is usually at the upper limit of normal or slightly beyond its limits (0.09-1.5 * 10 9 / l). A sharp increase in monocytes (up to 30-50*10 9 /l or more) is observed in oncohematological diseases.

An increase in monocytes in a child is most often associated with the following infectious processes:

Infectious mononucleosis

The disease caused by the herpes-like Epstein-Barr virus occurs primarily in preschool children. The prevalence of the infection is such that almost everyone gets it by adolescence. It almost never occurs in adults due to the peculiarities of the immune system's response.

Symptoms:

• Acute onset with fever up to 38-40 °C, chills.
• Signs of upper respiratory tract damage: runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat.
• Almost painless enlargement of the occipital and submandibular lymph nodes.
• Skin rash.
• Enlarged liver and spleen.

Fever during infectious mononucleosis persists for a long time, up to a month (with periods of improvement), which distinguishes this pathology from other acute respiratory viral infections. In the general blood test, both monocytes and lymphocytes are elevated. The diagnosis is made based on the typical clinical picture, but a test for specific antibodies may be performed. Therapy is aimed at relieving the symptoms of the disease. Targeted antiviral treatment is not carried out.

Other childhood infections

The simultaneous growth of monocytes and lymphocytes is observed in many infectious diseases that occur mainly in childhood and are almost not detected in adults:

• measles;
• rubella;
• whooping cough;
• mumps, etc.

In these diseases, monocytosis is observed in the case of protracted pathology.

In adults, other causes of an increase in the number of monocytes in the blood are identified:

Tuberculosis

A severe infectious disease that affects the lungs, bones, genitourinary organs, and skin. You can suspect the presence of this pathology based on certain signs:

• Long-lasting causeless fever.
• Unmotivated weight loss.
• Prolonged cough (with pulmonary tuberculosis).
• Lethargy, apathy, increased fatigue.

Annual fluorography helps identify pulmonary tuberculosis in adults (in children, the Mantoux test). A chest x-ray helps confirm the diagnosis. To detect tuberculosis of other localizations, specific studies are carried out. In the blood, in addition to an increase in the level of monocytes, there is a decrease in leukocytes, erythrocytes and hemoglobin.

Other infections can lead to monocytosis in adults:

• brucellosis;
• syphilis;
• sarcoidosis;
• cytomegalovirus infection;
• typhoid fever, etc.

The growth of monocytes is observed during a prolonged course of the disease.

• Abdominal pain of various localizations.
• Loss of stool (usually diarrhea).
• Unmotivated weight loss against the background of increased appetite.
• Allergic skin reaction such as urticaria.

Chronic infectious and inflammatory processes

Almost any indolent infection that exists in the human body for a long time leads to an increase in the level of monocytes in the blood and the accumulation of macrophages in tissues. It is difficult to identify specific symptoms in this situation, since they will depend on the form of the pathology and the location of the lesion.

This could be an infection of the lungs or throat, heart muscle or bone tissue, kidneys and gallbladder, or pelvic organs. This pathology is manifested by constant or periodically occurring pain in the projection of the affected organ, increased fatigue, and lethargy. Fever is not typical. After identifying the cause, optimal therapy is selected, and as the pathological process subsides, the level of monocytes returns to normal.

Autoimmune diseases

This term refers to conditions in which the human immune system perceives its own tissues as foreign and begins to destroy them. At this moment, monocytes and macrophages come into play - professional phagocytes, well-trained soldiers and janitors, whose task is to get rid of the suspicious focus. But with autoimmune pathology, this focus becomes one’s own joints, kidneys, heart valves, skin and other organs, from which all the symptoms of the pathology appear.

The most common autoimmune processes:

• Diffuse toxic goiter is a lesion of the thyroid gland, in which increased production of thyroid hormones occurs.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is a pathology accompanied by the destruction of small joints.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition that affects skin cells, small joints, heart valves, and kidneys.
• Systemic scleroderma is a disease that affects the skin and spreads to internal organs.
• Type I diabetes mellitus is a condition in which glucose metabolism is impaired, and other parts of metabolism are also affected.

The growth of monocytes in the blood in this pathology is only one of the symptoms of systemic damage, but does not act as a leading clinical sign. To determine the cause of monocytosis, additional tests are required taking into account the suspected diagnosis.

Oncohematological pathology

A sudden increase in monocytes in the blood is always scary, as it may indicate the development of malignant blood tumors. These are serious conditions that require a serious approach to treatment and do not always end well. If monocytosis cannot be associated with infectious diseases or autoimmune pathology, you should see an oncohematologist.

Blood diseases leading to monocytosis:

• Acute monocytic and myelomonocytic leukemia. A variant of leukemia in which monocyte precursors are detected in the bone marrow and blood. It is found mainly in children under 2 years of age. Accompanied by signs of anemia, bleeding, and frequent infectious diseases. There is pain in the bones and joints. It has a poor prognosis.
• Multiple myeloma. It is detected mainly after the age of 60 years. It is characterized by the appearance of bone pain, pathological fractures and bleeding, and a sharp decrease in immunity.

The number of monocytes in oncohematological diseases will be significantly higher than normal (up to 30-50*10 9 /l and higher), and this makes it possible to distinguish monocytosis in malignant tumors from a similar symptom in acute and chronic infections. In the latter case, the concentration of monocytes rises slightly, while in leukemia and myeloma there is a sharp increase in agranulocytes.

Other malignancies

If monocytes grow in the blood, attention should be paid to lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease). The pathology is accompanied by fever, enlargement of several groups of lymph nodes and the appearance of focal symptoms in various organs. Possible damage to the spinal cord. To confirm the diagnosis, puncture of the altered lymph nodes is performed with histological examination of the material.

An increase in monocytes is also observed in other malignant tumors of various locations. To identify the cause of such changes, targeted diagnostics are required.

Chemical poisoning

A rare cause of monocytosis that occurs in the following situations:

• Tetrachloroethane poisoning occurs when the substance is inhaled or ingested through the mouth or skin. Accompanied by irritation of the mucous membranes, headache, jaundice. In the long term, it can lead to liver damage and coma.
• Phosphorus poisoning occurs through contact with contaminated vapor or dust or accidental ingestion. In acute poisoning, stool loss and abdominal pain are observed. Without treatment, death occurs as a result of damage to the kidneys, liver and nervous system.

Monocytosis in case of poisoning is only one of the symptoms of the pathology and occurs in combination with other clinical and laboratory signs.

Reasons for the decrease in monocytes in the blood

Monocytopenia is a decrease in monocytes in the blood below a threshold value. A similar symptom occurs in the following conditions:

• Purulent bacterial infections.
• Aplastic anemia.
• Oncohematological diseases (late stages).
• Taking certain medications.

Reduced monocytes are somewhat less common than an increase in their number in the peripheral blood, and often this symptom is associated with serious diseases and conditions.

Purulent bacterial infections

This term refers to diseases in which pyogenic bacteria invade and inflammation develops. We are usually talking about streptococcal and staphylococcal infections. Among the most common purulent diseases it is worth highlighting:

• Skin infections: boil, carbuncle, cellulitis.
• Bone damage: osteomyelitis.
• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Sepsis is the entry of pathogenic bacteria into the blood with a simultaneous decrease in the overall reactivity of the body.

Some purulent infections tend to self-destruct, others require mandatory medical intervention. In the blood test, in addition to monocytopenia, there is an increase in the concentration of neutrophilic leukocytes - cells responsible for a rapid attack at the site of purulent inflammation.

Aplastic anemia

Low monocytes in adults can occur in various forms of anemia, a condition in which there is a lack of red blood cells and hemoglobin. But if other variants of this pathology respond well to therapy, then aplastic anemia deserves special attention. With this pathology, there is a sharp inhibition or complete cessation of the growth and maturation of all blood cells in the bone marrow, and monocytes are no exception.

Symptoms of aplastic anemia:

• Anemic syndrome: dizziness, loss of strength, weakness, tachycardia, pale skin.
• Bleeding of various localizations.
• Decreased immunity and infectious complications.

Aplastic anemia is a severe hematopoietic disorder. Without treatment, patients die within a few months. Therapy involves eliminating the cause of anemia, taking hormones and cytostatics. A bone marrow transplant has a good effect.

Oncohematological diseases

In the later stages of leukemia, inhibition of all hematopoietic germs and the development of pancytopenia are noted. Not only monocytes suffer, but also other blood cells. There is a significant decrease in immunity and the development of severe infectious diseases. Unreasonable bleeding occurs. Bone marrow transplantation is the optimal treatment option in this situation, and the sooner the operation is performed, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome.

Taking medications

Some medications (corticosteroids, cytostatics) inhibit bone marrow function and lead to a decrease in the concentration of all blood cells (pancytopenia). With timely assistance and discontinuation of the drug, bone marrow function is restored.

Monocytes are not just professional phagocytes, janitors of our body, ruthless killers of viruses and other dangerous elements. These white blood cells are a marker of health along with other indicators of a complete blood count. If your monocyte level increases or decreases, you should definitely see a doctor and undergo an examination to find the cause of this condition. Making a diagnosis and selecting a treatment regimen is carried out taking into account not only laboratory data, but also the clinical picture of the identified disease.

Monocytes (Mono) are the largest white blood cells. In terms of quantitative content, they occupy third place after other types of leukocytes - neutrophils and lymphocytes. They are involved in the production of interferon, destroy and absorb bacteria, dispose of dead and abnormal blood cells and cleanse it of other types of “garbage”.

These cells are part of the body's second line of immune defense, which fights severe infections. For several days they circulate in the blood, then pass into the tissues and, in the form of macrophages, move to the site of infection. They perform the same functions in tissues.

To determine the level of monocytes, a complete blood test is taken.

Monocytes (Mono) in the blood are elevated: what does this mean?

Most often, elevated monocytes in the blood are detected after acute infections. This increase is short-term. After the body is restored, monocytes return to normal.

As a rule, a one-time decrease in Mono in tests is not significant from a medical point of view. A persistent deviation in the absolute content of these cells below normal may have the following reasons:

• aplastic anemia;
• bone marrow diseases (decrease by two or more times);
• hairy cell leukemia;
• taking prednisolone.

Monocyte percentage may fluctuate due to lymphocyte and neutrophil levels.

Examples of diagnostics for increased monocytes and increased or decreased leukocytes (lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils)

Most often, elevated monocytes are associated with an infectious or inflammatory process. To make a diagnosis or order additional examination, the doctor examines other changes in the blood test. The degree and duration of deviation of indicators from normal are taken into account. Monocytes deviate slightly from the norm quite often.

An increased relative content of monocytes (in%) may be the result of a decrease in the absolute number of leukocytes or their individual fractions - manifest with decreased neutrophils or lymphocytes. In this case, the indicator has no diagnostic value. You can read about the reasons for the decrease in leukocytes.

A serious increase in the level of monocytes is noted with a sluggish process of sepsis and infective endocarditis. In this case, the total number of leukocytes may change slightly.

The ratio of the absolute number of monocytes to another type of leukocytes - lymphocytes - is one of the diagnostic signs of an active tuberculosis process. If this ratio exceeds one, the disease is in the active phase. As you recover, it returns to normal (0.3-0.8).

The norm of monocytes in a blood test in adults

The norm of monocytes in the blood is determined both as a percentage and in absolute units. The percentages show what proportion monocytes occupy among all types of leukocytes.

It is worth noting that the absolute content of this type of cell is of greater diagnostic importance, since changes in the relative level can be caused by fluctuations in the proportion of other types of leukocytes - in percentage terms, with reduced lymphocytes and neutrophils, monocytes can be increased. An increase or decrease in the relative level of monocytes is usually not important in making the diagnosis.

The norm of monocytes in the blood of adult women and men is the same:

• relative content – ​​3-10%;
• absolute content – ​​0.05-0.82 x10 9 /l (or G/l).

Monocytes in the blood of children

Unlike adult women and men, the rate of monocytes in a child gradually decreases as they grow older.

The norm of monocytes in the blood of children by age (relative content, in%):

• newborns – 3-12;
• child under one year old – 4-10;
• 1-2 years – 3-10;
• 2-16 years - 3-12 (in some laboratories, the Mono normal range for children of this age is narrowed to 2-10. Differences in norms are explained by differences in the equipment used in laboratories).

Norm for the absolute content of monocytes in the blood of children, in G/l or x10 9 /l:

• up to 1 year – 0.05-1.1;
• 1-2 years – 0.05-0.6;
• 2-4 years – 0.05-0.5;
• 4-16 years old – 0.05-0.4.