Question

When someone is admitted to the hospital, one of the first procedures health-care professionals perform is a blood draw. One lab value checked is a white blood cell (WBC) count. If the WBC count is elevated (normal range 4 4,000–11,000/mm3), this could indicate the presence of inflammation. Further analysis (called a differential) is performed to determine the relative prevalence of different types of white blood cells and the potential cause of the inflammation. What might be causing the inflammation if lymphocytes were elevated? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

If lymphocytes were elevated, it could indicate that the inflammation is caused by a viral infection. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system's response to viral infections. When the body is fighting off a viral infection, lymphocytes are produced in greater numbers and are released into the bloodstream to help combat the virus. Therefore, an elevated lymphocyte count is often seen in viral infections such as influenza, mononucleosis, and measles. However, it's important to note that other factors can also cause an elevated lymphocyte count, such as some types of leukemia and lymphoma. A complete analysis of the differential count and other lab values would be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the inflammation accurately.