Agranulocytosis: how to live with a lack of leukocytes

Decrease in the number or even complete disappearance of granulocytes in the blood – agranulocytosis threatens with serious consequences for the body – up to the development of sepsis, pulmonary gangrene and other unfortunate complications. The thing is that granulocytes are responsible for the body's fight against infections that have penetrated into it, and with a blood disease caused by an insufficient number of granulocytes, infection resistance becomes ineffective. Prevent fatal  outcomes are possible by carefully monitoring the patient's condition on treatment with myelotoxic drugs.

Why granulocytes are important and why agranulocytosis happens

Agranulocytosis is extremely rare as a congenital condition, usually this unpleasant acquisition lies in wait for women in the age group after 40 years. Experts attribute the increase in cases of diagnosing agranulocytosis to the constant expansion of the range of pharmaceuticals, especially cytostatics, which can cause blood diseases.

Granulocytes are a special group of leukocytes – for the specific granularity of their cytoplasm. They are produced by the bone marrow and are considered the main anti-infective factor in the body. When a microbe or fungus penetrates, granulocytes are able to penetrate the walls of the capillaries, find the pathogen and destroy it with the help of secreted special enzymes. The less granulocytes in the body, the weaker its defenses against pathogens of various diseases.

• Among the reasons why agranulocytosis may develop are the following:
• exposure to the body of ionizing radiation;
• taking some antibiotics and cytostatics, sulfonamides, pyrazolone NSAIDs;
• taking TB drugs,  helminthiasis, diabetes mellitus.

A provoking factor for agranulocytosis can be influenza, poliomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroiditis. At the same time, with such a blood disease as agranulocytosis, it can be assumed that the patient has chronic lymphocytic leukemia or aplastic anemia.

Symptomatics of agranulocytosis in various forms of the disease

Symptoms in different forms of agranulocytosis manifest themselves in different ways. So, for example, immune agranulocytosis develops acutely, and myelotoxic gradually. However, this blood disease is characterized by high fever, severe pallor and weakness, and the presence of arthralgia. Typical for agranulocytosis is bleeding gums, bruises and hematomas on the skin. Characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the oral mucosa, necrotization of the tissues of the palate. The patient complains of profuse salivation and sore throat, difficulty chewing.

Clinically significant for the diagnosis of agranulocytosis is a combination of hemorrhages, ulcerative-necrotic manifestations on the mucous membranes and hyperthermia. The diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test and bone marrow puncture.

Peculiarities of treatment of agranulocytosis and prognosis of the disease

Patients diagnosed with agranulocytosis are hospitalized in isolated rooms, excluding the possibility of infection. First you need to try to eliminate the disease-provoking factors – for example, taking myelotoxic drugs. Recommended intravenous immunoglobulins, platelet masses, leukopoiesis stimulants. In the autoimmune nature of the disease, high doses of glucocorticoids are prescribed.  In severe septic complications, the prognosis may be poor.