English 4 MIN READ 1347 VIEWS May 13, 2024

Discover if Your Monocytes Levels Fall Within the Normal Range

Written By HealthKart
Medically Reviewed By Dr. Aarti Nehra

Monocytes, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in the body’s immune defence. But what happens when levels fall outside the monocytes normal range? In this guide, we delve into the world of monocytes, exploring their meaning, the implications of monocytes low and high levels, and the symptoms associated with abnormalities. Join us as we demystify the monocytes meaning and their significance in health.

Understanding “abs monocytes”

In a complete blood count, “abs monocytes” refers to the absolute count of monocytes, a type of white blood cell. Elevated levels may indicate autoimmune diseases or chronic infections, while decreased levels could result from certain treatments or bone marrow issues.

Function of Monocytes

The function of monocytes, the largest white blood cells, is crucial in the body’s defence against infection. Although they are not abundant in the bloodstream, they play a vital role in the immune response. They travel through the bloodstream to tissues, where they transform into dendritic or macrophage cells, aiding in antigen presentation and combating cancer cells, and microbes. Macrophages, in particular, serve as frontline defenders, coordinating with other immune cells to eliminate pathogens and communicate infection presence to the immune system.

Monocytes Normal Range

The monocytes blood test procedure and other factors can cause a minor variation in the absolute monocyte test findings. Absolute monocytes normally fall within the following ranges:

Age RangeAbsolute monocytes per microliter of blood (mcL)
Adults0.2 to 0.95 x 103
Infants from 6 months to 1 year0.6 x 103
Children from 4 to 10 years0.0 to 0.8 x 103

Points to Remember while Analysing the Ranges

  • Monocytes typically account for 2–8% of your white blood cell count.
  • Each laboratory may have slightly different ranges. 
  • A reference range from the lab that conducted your test is usually included in your report. 
  • Monocyte numbers are often higher in men than in women.
  • Higher or lower values than the range specified do not mean you should be concerned. However, they could point to an underlying issue that needs to be checked out.
  • Monocyte counts fluctuate based on the state of the immune system. 
  • Monitoring monocyte levels aids in immunity surveillance.
  • There are usually no monocytes low symptoms. However, people may have symptoms of the disorder that caused the change in monocyte number.

Monocytes High Count (Monocytosis)

If you have an autoimmune illness or an infection is discovered, your body may produce more monocytes. When you have an autoimmune disease, your body’s immune system mistakenly target healthy cells which may cause monocytes to increase as a part of immune response. Over time, infected individuals also frequently have higher than normal monocyte counts.

The following illnesses can cause a monocytes high: 

  • Leukaemia and other cancers, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma
  • Bacterial infections, such as syphilis, brucellosis, tuberculosis, and subacute bacterial endocarditis
  • Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease
  • Sarcoidosis: a condition where an excessive number of inflammatory cells accumulate in various body organs
  • Langerhans cell histiocytosis: an uncommon illness that can cause harm to body tissue

If your white blood cell count is high, your absolute monocyte count may be too. An increased white blood cell count may result from:

  • an infection, inflammation
  • burn, or other injury
  • autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
  • abnormal thyroid function or malnourishment
  • certain medications

Monocytes Low Count (Monocytopenia)

Usually, diseases that reduce your white blood cell count or medicines that weaken your immune system cause monocytes low levels.

Low absolute monocyte counts can result from several medical treatments, such as 

  • Radiation and chemotherapy can damage bone marrow
  • Sepsis, a bloodstream infection
  • HIV and AIDS, which weaken immune function

Your body may be more vulnerable to infection if you have monocytes low levels. You can also have low absolute monocytes if you have a low white blood cell count. Low white blood cell counts can be caused by the following: 

  • infections
  • certain medications, such as chemotherapy 
  • malaria
  • alcoholism 
  • lupus

How to Treat Monocytes High or Low Counts?

An abnormal monocyte count, whether high or low, does not necessarily indicate a disease. Instead, it suggests that there may be an underlying cause, which could be an illness, an infection, or a reaction to a medication. Treating the underlying illness is typically the primary focus of treatment. At first, a doctor may recommend a blood differential test to get further information that can help in the diagnosis.

How is the Monocyte Count Determined?

The evaluation of monocyte count is part of a routine complete blood count (CBC). If your doctor thinks your blood cell counts could be off, they might also perform a blood differential test.

If your CBC shows specific markers that are lower or higher than the monocytes normal range, this test can help confirm the results or show that the levels reported in the initial CBC were only temporarily out of the normal range.

Conclusion

Absolute monocytes are a specific kind of white blood cell measurement. They assist in the defence against illnesses, including cancer and infections. One method to keep an eye on the status of your blood and immune system is to have your monocytes blood test to check if levels are normal. Ask your doctor if it’s time to get a complete blood count if you haven’t had one recently.

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