INFO - Causes of decreased white blood cells in older adults

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The AGS Foundation for Health and Aging

08/30/2005

Causes of Decreased White Blood Cells in Older Adults

Decreased or poor production of WBCs

Drugs

Infection

Cancer

Cancer treatment

Severe malnutrition

Folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency

Increased destruction of WBCs

Drugs

Immune disease

Severe blood poisoning

Trapping in the spleen

In older adults, a low WBC count is most often a side effect of

medical treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy for cancer, and

various other drug treatments. In some cases, the decrease in WBCs depends

on the dosage of the treatment. In other cases, the decrease in WBCs is

thought to be due to allergic or immune reactions unrelated to dosage.

Other common causes for a low WBC count include cancer, immune

diseases (eg, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), and infection. Severe

infection can influence WBC levels in two ways, decreasing production in the

bone marrow while destroying WBCs in the circulation at the same time.

The evaluation of a WBC problem includes tests to measure the number

and types of cells in the blood, and a bone marrow biopsy. Treatment is

directed at the underlying cause.

http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=52#whitecel\

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org