Reduced band neutrophils: possible causes, therapy

general information

Neutrophils are a type of granulocytes (granular white blood cells). Their main function is to capture and absorb various harmful particles. Having absorbed microorganisms, they die, and new cells are formed in their place. Together with lymphocytes, they reliably protect the body. Neutrophils are divided into:

• Band cells are blood cells that do not have a formed nucleus. They are also called immature. They are synthesized in the spleen, bone marrow and liver. When maturing, they become mature, i.e. segmented. The function of phagocytosis is carried out by them after full maturation. They live only in the bloodstream, as they are not able to move to the site of the lesion and pass through the wall of the vessel. The norm for an adult is within five percent. In children, this indicator depends on age.
• Segmented - have a clear structure and a formed core.

An individual's immunity is influenced by the number of neutrophils. In addition, the course of inflammatory processes in the body depends on them. Therefore, if the analysis showed that band neutrophils are reduced, then this will negatively affect the health of the individual. However, for a neutrophil to become a full-fledged defender of the body, it must go through several stages of development:

• myeloblast;
• promyelocyte;
• metamyelocyte;
• rod cell - it appears by being ejected when a threat such as pathogens or infection appears;
• A segmented cell is a full-fledged element of blood. It is able to move in the bloodstream.

Causes of decreased neutrophils in the blood and methods of correction

Neutrophils are a type of blood cells such as leukocytes. Along with lymphocytes and monocytes, they protect our body from harmful inhabitants of the environment - microbes.

It goes without saying that a decrease in the level of these cells threatens to weaken the defense, and there is a high probability of the development and spread of infection throughout the body.

Types of neutrophils

As you know, the white blood cell population is heterogeneous and includes our neutrophils, as well as lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. Neutrophils constitute the largest group among leukocytes. In turn, granulocytes are divided into segmented and band. Neutrophils are formed in the red bone marrow from the myeloblast. They transform during the ripening process.

It is clearly seen why the increase in immature forms is called a shift to the left

Thus, segmented granulocytes are a mature form. They have a segmented nucleus and circulate in the blood. When they encounter a microbe or foreign particle, they absorb and destroy it and die. These are such small and heroic cells.

Myelocytes, metamyelocytes, stabs are young and immature forms of neutrophils. It goes without saying that the population of cells that die during infection must be replenished. The bone marrow intensively produces young neutrophils. Their number in the blood increases, and the content of segmented lymphocytes decreases. This pattern, characteristic of an infectious-inflammatory process, is called a neutrophilic shift to the left.

The reserve capacity of the bone marrow is not unlimited, and with a long-term infection, the number of cells in the blood decreases. In addition, various other factors may be the cause of low neutrophils.

What is considered normal and how to determine

The normal level of neutrophils is indicated as a percentage of the total number of leukocytes. Segmented cells make up 45-75 percent. Band cells should be no more than 5 percent. No other immature forms should be detected in the blood. If young neutrophil cells are detected in the blood, then there is a massive consumption of mature forms, which means that a serious infectious process is developing in the body.

Neutrophils are determined in a complete blood test.

For these purposes, capillary blood is taken from a finger.

When neutrophils are low

The reasons that caused the decrease in level are varied. Low neutrophils may be due to:

• long-term inflammatory process in the body;
• severe viral infection (measles, rubella, HIV);
• generalized fungal infection;
• parasitic agents (toxoplasmosis, malaria);
• helminths, or rather, the toxins they secrete;
• allergies (neutrophils are low after anaphylaxis);
• the action of exogenous toxins (some poisons and chemicals);
• taking certain medications (chloramphenicol, zidovudine, sulfonamide antibiotics);
• hereditary pathology (Kostman syndrome);
• radioactive exposure;
• chemotherapy in the treatment of oncology;
• damage to the bone marrow by the tumor process, including metastatic ones.

A condition where neutrophils are low is called neutropenia.

A decrease in the absolute number of neutrophil leukocytes below 0.5 per 109/liter is called agranulocytosis.

Neutropenia can be absolute and relative. It is important to take this into account when deciphering the results. Only the absolute number of neutrophils will be reliable. Although in most cases the content, both in percentage and in numerical equivalent, is the same.

Reduced neutrophil leukocytes against a background of increased lymphocytes

The reasons for this condition may be that the person has recently suffered an acute viral infection or influenza. Quite quickly they will return to normal on their own. However, this combination may be a sign of the following diseases:

• HIV,
• lymphocytic leukemia or lymphosarcoma,
• tuberculosis.

This is important to take into account when diagnosing, based on clinical data.

Features of the infectious process against the background of neutropenia

As noted above, neutrophils are the primary unit that responds to a foreign agent. When an infection occurs, they rush to the site of its location and form a focus of inflammation, preventing the spread of microbes. Pus in the wound, intoxication and inflammatory syndrome are the results of the struggle of neutrophils with a foreign agent.

Pus is a product of the breakdown of spent granulocytes that have lysed a foreign object.

The disease can be asymptomatic if a person initially has neutropenia. Subsequently, the infection will quickly spread throughout the body, leading to sepsis.

Neutropenia may first appear clinically:

• purulent-necrotic sore throat;
• stomatitis and gingivitis;
• cystitis and urethritis;
• asymptomatic inflammatory process with subsequent development of osteomyelitis, abscesses and subsequently sepsis.

It is very important for patients with neutropenia not to come into contact with infectious patients. Avoid hypothermia and drafts. Avoid places where there are large numbers of people. It is necessary to prevent seasonal infectious diseases. Microbes that are absolutely safe for a person with normal white cell counts can lead to serious consequences in patients with low neutrophils.

Most often, the primary infectious process develops on mucous membranes in contact with the external environment (purulent tonsillitis)

How to restore the proper level of neutrophils

To increase the content of neutrophils, it is first necessary to determine the reason for their decrease. Most often, after an infection they recover on their own. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the primary factor leading to neutropenia.

Drug treatment includes several types of drugs. They are prescribed only for persistent and manifesting neutropenia. For moderate neutropenia, the use of leukopoiesis stimulants is indicated. Methyluracil and pentoxyl are widely used. Treatment is carried out under the control of an immunogram with mandatory consultation with an immunologist. If it is not possible to increase the content of neutrophils, drugs of colony-stimulating factors (filgrastim, lenograstim) are prescribed. In addition, these drugs are prescribed to patients with initially severe agranulocytosis. Colony-stimulating factor drugs are potent. They have a number of side effects. They are prescribed only in hospital settings.

In any case, with neutropenia, a thorough examination is necessary to identify the cause. Treatment is carried out by experienced doctors, including a hematologist. It is very important to identify neutropenia and choose the right treatment tactics before serious infectious complications develop.

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Functions of band neutrophils

The main functions of immature neutrophils:

• Biological. The cells supply the necessary enzymes to the affected area and thereby activate the process of resorption of necrotic tissue.
• Protective. As a result of phagocytosis, enzyme substances are synthesized, which become an obstacle to dangerous phenomena that threaten the individual’s body.
• They supply antitoxic substances to the blood.
• Participate in fibrinolysis.

It is important to remember that reduced band neutrophils cannot fully perform the necessary functions.

Stages of neutropenia

Neutropenia indicates that the body is tired as a result of a long-term illness and a weakened immune system. Chemotherapy treatment can also provoke this condition. The following stages are distinguished:

• heavy;
• average;
• light.

If the number of band neutrophils is reduced, then the individual experiences weakness, increased sweating, fever, headache, chills and dental problems. The appearance of other symptoms signals the rapid development of the disease and then the patient requires hospitalization and examination. An increased level of band neutrophils indicates the presence of an infection in the body or the development of an inflammatory process.

Diagnostics

In order for the doctor to understand why band neutrophils are normal and segmented neutrophils are low, a thorough diagnosis is necessary. The quantitative indicator of immature cells is influenced by various factors. Deviation, both downward and vice versa, signals the development of pathological processes in the individual’s body, which are accompanied by a rather sharp deterioration in his condition. To make a diagnosis, doctors will also be interested in the values ​​of indicators such as:

• leukocytes;
• basophils;
• monocytes;
• eosinophils;
• mature neutrophils.

It is recommended to determine the level of immature cells in the following situations:

• after surgery - to analyze the effectiveness of therapy and wound infection;
• when coughing - an increased amount indicates the bacterial nature of the infection;
• prolonged increase in temperature;
• before prescribing antibacterial medications - in the future this will help determine the effectiveness of therapy (the absence of a decrease in neutrophils will indicate the development of complications);
• the presence of a clinical picture characteristic of acute respiratory infections.

Norms and deviations

The number of neutrophils in the blood does not depend on gender, but differs significantly in children of different ages.

In medical documents, the percentage of neutrophils is indicated under the symbol NEU.

READ Treatment of leukopenia or how to increase white blood cells after chemotherapy?

There is usually no “neutrophils” position in the analysis table. Instead, there are separate graphs - “rod” and “segmented”.

The rate of young band neutrophils in newborns is quite high. Such cells in a healthy baby range from 5 to 12%.

Moreover, already in the first week of a child’s life, these indicators fall, and the percentage of young neutrophils from 1 to 5% is considered healthy . Such indicators last for up to a year.

In healthy children over one year old, band neutrophils should not exceed 4%.

The indicators of segmented neutrophils fluctuate greatly depending on the age of the child. The normal percentage of mature neutrophils in a newborn is 50 to 70 .

After the first week of life, norms depend on many processes taking place in the child’s body. The lower and upper limits of the norm change nonlinearly. Therefore, it is optimal to entrust the interpretation of analyzes to a specialist.

During certain periods of child growth and development, neutrophil norms may slightly increase or decrease.

The causes of inflammatory processes in a child’s body may be natural.

For example, certain reactions occur in the body during teething and adaptation to new types of food.

Deviations from the norm can manifest themselves in an increase or decrease in the number of leukocytes in general or neutrophils in particular.

The pediatrician can draw conclusions about the child’s health by detecting the so-called neutrophil shift - an imbalance between young and mature neutrophils, which is not typical for the child’s specific age.

An increase in the number of neutrophils indicates that the baby is suffering from some kind of inflammatory process.

In addition, the percentage of neutrophils increases in the period after vaccination. After the disease is cured, a high level of neutrophils remains for some time.

The higher the level of neutrophils in a child's blood, the more serious the infection is present in the body.

Sometimes neutrophils in a child’s blood can increase due to violation of the rules of analysis.

The level of these cells increases with physical activity and strong excitement. Therefore, it is very important that the child is properly prepared for the test.

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Band neutrophils are reduced: reasons

The main reasons are the suppression of the synthesis of cells belonging to the leukocyte series. In all cases, a decrease in neutrophils and band forms provokes suppression of the immune system and a weakening of the body’s defense response. Among the factors contributing to a slight decrease in these blood cells are:

• age up to five years;
• exhaustion of the body;
• taking certain medications that provoke a decrease in neutrophils - cytostatics, analgesics, anticonvulsants, hormones;
• intoxication;
• allergic reactions;
• being in an unfavorable climatic zone.

Some features of the decrease in band neutrophils

Band neutrophils are immature forms of blood cells. Literally a few hours after their origin, they become mature, i.e. segmented. In infants, normal levels range from five to twelve, and in adults - from one to six percent. Among the reasons for the decrease in band neutrophils in a child are:

• excessive physical activity;
• genetics;
• lack of folic acid and cyanocobalamin;
• hormonal imbalance;
• severe stress;
• lead intoxication;
• radiation;
• bad environment;
• the effect of some drugs.

The following diseases also help reduce them:

• autoimmune diseases;
• bone marrow diseases;
• viral and severe bacterial infections;
• erythremia;
• lymphocytic leukemia in chronic form;
• splenomegaly.

Decoding the leukocyte formula

The leukocyte formula is deciphered using a hemometer. Whether band neutrophils are decreased or, conversely, increased, has important diagnostic significance. If a shift to the left is observed, this indicates the growth of immature cells, and to the right indicates an increase in mature cells. Thus, with a shift to the right, radiation sickness, anemia, kidney and liver disease are suspected. And the presence of a large number of immature cells in the blood is characteristic of malignant tumors and severe inflammatory processes.

When studying a blood test, all indicators are considered. For example, if band neutrophils are reduced, and monocytes and lymphocytes are increased, then this is a sign of an acute infection of viral origin. And if lymphocytes and neutrophils are low or the former are within normal limits, then this indicates the presence of a chronic viral infection. Another interpretation is known - such indicators are temporary and are a consequence of a previous viral infection.

Often, a band neutrophil count of zero indicates an indolent or chronic infection, such as sinusitis or laryngitis. If a zero indicator of band neutrophils is detected, the reason lies in the following:

• viral and bacterial infections;
• anemia;
• exposure to radiation;
• toxic effects of certain drugs.

Indicators of band neutrophils allow the doctor to see how the bone marrow works.

Causes of a low number of neutrophils in an adult

Changes in the level of mature or immature neutrophils are detected when reading a blood test. At the same time, indicators such as monocytes and lymphocytes are compared and analyzed. A sharp decrease in band neutrophils in an adult is present with the following serious anomalies, such as:

• thrombocytopenia;
• metastases in the bone marrow;
• leukemia;
• ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum;
• poisoning;
• consequences of radiation treatment.

Long-term use of penicillin antibiotics, as well as analgesics based on metamizole sodium, helps reduce the level of neutrophils. With low levels of rod and segmented cells, a pregnant woman is at risk of miscarriage. Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of a decrease in any type of neutrophils after additional examination.

Segmented neutrophils: normal, what are they and what are they responsible for?

A blood test may show that segmented neutrophils are increased or decreased. What does this indicator mean and how does it affect your health?

What are neutrophil granulocytes?

Neutrophils or neutrophilic granulocytes are a type of leukocytes, cells that protect the body from infection that has entered it.

White blood cells circulate throughout the body along with the bloodstream. If necessary, they are able to leak through the walls of capillaries and penetrate into the space between cells to absorb particles foreign to the body. This process is called phagocytosis.

Leukocytes are a large group of cells that vary in appearance.

All types of leukocytes have two common features:

1. presence of a nucleus;
2. lack of color.

Due to the lack of their own color, leukocytes are sometimes called the white elements of blood.

In addition to neutrophils, there are other leukocytes: eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells. Table 1 shows how many different types of leukocytes should be in the blood of a healthy person.

Tab.1

A deviation from the leukocyte ratio indicates a problem in the body. As can be seen from the leukocyte expression, there are more segmented granulocytes in the blood than other leukocytes.

The following conditions can change the ratio:

• hemoglobin deficiency;
• insufficient functioning of the kidneys and liver;
• transfusion of blood components.

The listed three reasons shift the leukocyte formula to the right, that is, the number of band-nuclear granulocytes in the blood decreases and the number of segmented granulocytes increases.

How do segmented neutrophils differ from band neutrophils? The former are a mature form of leukocytes, the latter are a young, immature form.

Neutrophils are formed in the bone marrow and mature there into a band form. After penetration into the plasma, the nuclei of neutrophils are divided into segments and the bodies turn into full-fledged segmented neutrophils capable of fighting infections.

The magnitude of the shift of neutrophils during illness can be estimated by the formula: shift index (IS) = myelocytes + metamyelocytes + ratio of band neutrophils to segmented ones.

In a healthy person, the IS is 0.06. The value of the IS index is an important indicator by which one can predict how the infection will progress.

What are they responsible for?

Normally, in the blood of adults there are very few young band granulocytes and up to 70% segmented granulocytes. What function do segmented neutrophils perform, and why are there so many of them in the blood?

The main task of these elements is to destroy microbes that have entered the body. The leukocyte deals with microbes using phagocytosis.

Each of the neutrophil granulocytes contains lysozyme, an enzyme that can dissolve protein organisms, which include bacteria and microscopic fungi, which are most often the source of infection.

Neutrophil granulocytes travel in the blood for only six hours. They then exit the capillaries into the tissue. The interval of their life in the intercellular space depends on various reasons.

A segmented neutrophil can survive in the intercellular fluid from 3-4 minutes to several days.

Neutrophilia is an increase in the number of segmented neutrophils in the blood. Pronounced neutrophilia occurs with pneumonia caused by bacteria (neutrophilia is especially pronounced in croup).

Sometimes myeloblasts are found in the blood - young cells that represent the first stage of granulocyte development. Normally, myeloblasts should not be in the blood, but inside the bones.

The condition when myeloblasts are released into the blood is called leukemoid reaction. She talks about malignant processes, presumably with extensive metastases to the bone marrow.

Neutrophilia is the main criterion for diagnosing suppuration, including sepsis. The more granulocytes of all stages of development are in the blood, the stronger the body reacts to infection.

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Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of segmented granulocytes in the blood decreases.

Neutropenia can be a symptom of bacterial and viral infections, the effects of radiation on the body, chemical poisoning, lack of B vitamins, acute leukemia, and immune diseases.

There are hereditary forms of neutropenia, including familial benign neutropenia, a rare disease in which granulocyte deficiency is inherited as a dominant trait.

Medicine has described cases of an almost complete absence of segmented neutrophils in a child, which did not prevent him from surviving to adulthood, despite poor immunity. With age, the clinical manifestations of the disease softened.

Standards for men, women, children

The norms of segmented neutrophils do not depend on gender, place of residence or season. It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer or winter and what altitude is above sea level - unlike Hb, the number of segmented neutrophils in men and women is always the same.

In women of reproductive age, the normal level of neutrophils changes upward before menstruation, in late pregnancy and immediately after childbirth. The normal level for people over 21 years of age is 45–70% neutrophils.

The younger you are, the fewer neutrophils there will be in the blood. The norm in children is different from the norm in adults. In a newborn, segmented neutrophils make up only 34% of the total number of leukocytes.

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By day 4, the neutrophil level rises to 39% and then begins to decline until the newborn has only 25% segmented neutrophils at two weeks of age. At the same time, the number of lymphocytes begins to increase - this figure reaches 55%.

Lymphocytes are special white blood cells responsible for immunity. For comparison: in the adult body, lymphocytes make up only 25–40% of the total number of white blood cells.

In a child under one year old, the number of lymphocytes reaches 70% and begins to decline only after a year, reaching the adult norm of 45% by adolescence.

After 6 years of age, the child undergoes a crossover and instead of lymphocytes, the most numerous leukocytes become neutrophils.

It is impossible to talk about the norm of neutrophils without taking into account such an indicator as the limit of fluctuations in the absolute value. It is needed for the correct count of leukocytes in a blood smear.

In the laboratory, segmented neutrophils are counted manually by looking through a microscope eyepiece.

Naturally, there may be errors. The fluctuation limit is measured in pieces per liter. The normal range of fluctuations for segmented neutrophils in children and adults is 109/l.

The “depot” of granulocytes in the bone marrow of a child and an adult can be depleted after chemotherapy, malnutrition or general weakening of the body.

Measles, rubella, chicken pox and other diseases of bacterial and viral etiology, rickettsia and other protozoa can reduce the percentage of granulocytes in the blood even in people who were previously completely healthy.

What to do if there is a deviation from the norm?

Segmented neutrophils can change their structure due to severe infections. Morphological changes serve as symptoms of generalization of infection or development of bacteremia.

Toxogenic granulation is the appearance of dark conglomerates in the cytoplasm of granulocytes as a result of physical and chemical changes caused by infection.

The change is most often the result of the neutrophil dissolving toxic substances secreted by pathogenic microorganisms.

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Granular changes in the structure of segmented neutrophils occur in purulent diseases, lobar pneumonia, scarlet fever, and as a result of radiation therapy.

Vacuolization of the cytoplasm of granulocytes is less common than toxogenic granulation, but this change can also serve as a diagnostic sign.

If vacuolization is detected, a preliminary diagnosis can be made: acute liver dystrophy or an abscess caused by an anaerobic infection.

Knyazkov-Dele bodies are visible under a microscope as vast bluish fields of cytoplasm, freed from granules inherent in all neutrophils.

Such changes in segmented granulocytes occur during blood poisoning, burns, measles and scarlet fever.

Hypersegmentation of segmented granulocytes - an increase in nuclear sections to 5 or more. This morphological change may be hereditary or result from a deficiency of coenzymes. With congenital hypersegmentation, the pathology has no clinical manifestations.

In some diseases, not blood is taken for analysis, but bone marrow puncture, and based on the results of the study, a myelogram is drawn up, reflecting the percentage of cells of different types in the smear.

Normally, the myelogram should contain segmented erythrocytes from 13.1 to 24.1%, the normal granulocyte maturation index is 0.5 – 0.9%.

What to do if the analysis reveals that the number of segmented neutrophils differs from the norm more or less or there are changes in morphology?

The first thing you need to do is take the test again, preferably in a different laboratory. An error can easily creep into the counting and examination of leukocytes due to poor-quality reagents, violation of the rules for donating blood, or human factor.

Even a common cold can affect the result, so you first need to do a repeat clinical test, and then consult a doctor.

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A child has low band neutrophils: reasons

Acceptable values ​​of mature and immature white cells in the blood of children depend on age. With age, neutrophil counts normalize. However, there are individuals who are diagnosed with chronic neutropenia. When this pathology is diagnosed in a child, he is registered at the dispensary, since low neutrophil counts indicate a failure of the immune system. The baby is constantly attacked by viruses and symptoms such as lethargy, fatigue, low or no mobility appear. Sometimes stomach disorders occur. There are many known reasons that provoke a decrease in immature cells. Significant changes in health indicate the following pathological conditions:

• fungal infections;
• acute leukemia;
• anemia;
• chemical poisoning;
• viral diseases;
• radiation therapy;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• condition after anaphylactic shock.

As in adults, the reason for the decrease in band neutrophils in children is the use of hormones, anticonvulsants, and painkillers. A decrease in neutrophils at an early age is considered a natural process. As they grow older, their number increases. However, a significant decrease in these cells is dangerous and signals low immunity. In addition, low rates may be caused by hereditary factors. In this case, a rather sharp deterioration in well-being and no visible symptoms are observed.

Decreased neutrophil levels

A decrease in neutrophils (neutropenia) is a blood condition that may indicate certain disorders in the child’s body.

One of the reasons for the decrease in neutrophils may be that the body cannot cope with too much of a foreign agent.

READ Reduced hematocrit in the child’s blood

In case of bacterial infections, many neutrophils die, and the natural growth of these cells does not compensate for the resulting deficiency.

If a child suffers from viral diseases, then the level of other cells in his body - lymphocytes and monocytes - may increase. Because of this, the percentage of neutrophils in the blood becomes lower.

A child’s neutrophils may fall due to unfavorable environmental conditions, in case of poisoning with any toxic substances.

Including a sharp decrease in neutrophils may be a reaction to a low-quality vaccine or a vaccination given in violation of the rules.

One cause of low neutrophils is an allergic reaction. In case of anaphylactic shock, the level of these cells decreases sharply.

Sometimes the reasons for a decrease in neutrophils in a child’s blood are due to insufficient production of these cells by the bone marrow.

Therefore, if there are no signs of other diseases, then it is necessary to exclude disease of this organ.

A low level of neutrophils in a baby’s body can be caused by various blood diseases.

In this case, under the influence of pathological processes, most of the protective cells are destroyed before they begin to perform their functions.

Neutrophils in a child’s blood may also be reduced due to various types of anemia. A lack of certain substances in the blood leads to disruption of the natural process of cell formation.

This is sometimes observed in cases of congenital neutropenia. Often this deviation is temporary, and the number of neutrophils in the blood returns to normal in the first days of the baby’s life.

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In some cases, the baby experiences cyclic neutropenia. This phenomenon occurs when the percentage of mature neutrophils periodically decreases and increases to normal levels.

Sometimes this phenomenon occurs in children at a certain age, usually between the second and fourth years of life. With age, the percentage of cells returns to normal and becomes less susceptible to fluctuations.

The danger of a low neutrophil count

A decrease signals a severe course of the disease, while the body consumes a large number of immature neutrophils. If the level of band cells is low, neutropenia is diagnosed. For adults, the absence of these cells is less dangerous than for children, since the immune system replaces the missing cells with others.

Deviations from the norm, either in one direction or the other, are dangerous to health. If the level of band neutrophils is reduced, the reason lies in a weakened immune system. In this case, it is necessary to direct all efforts to restore protective forces, otherwise the individual will be constantly susceptible to various serious illnesses.

Types of neutrophils and their functions in the blood

Neutrophils are produced by the human bone marrow, so most of them (more than 55%) are found there. Leaving the bone marrow, blood cells enter the general bloodstream, and then they go directly to organs and tissues. Organs contain about 40% of the total cell volume. Thus, no more than 1% of neutrophils constantly circulate in the blood.

There are several types of neutrophils depending on their degree of maturity:

• Myeloblasts. This is the first stage of development of this blood cell.
• Promyelocytes.
• Metomielocytes. They are also called "juvenile cells".
• Rods. These are immature neutrophils.
• Segmented. These are mature neutrophils that are found in larger numbers in the blood.

The main function of these cells is to protect the body. Mature neutrophils are the first to fight foreign agents (bacteria and viruses). They have the ability to absorb and destroy pathogenic bacteria found in the bloodstream and tissues of the body. In this regard, the number of segmented cells in the blood decreases, but the number of immature neutrophils increases. This phenomenon in medicine is called “shift of the leukocyte formula to the left.”

With a decrease in the number of mature cells, the bone marrow begins to intensively produce new young forms of neutrophils.

In addition to protecting the body, they are involved in thermoregulation and blood clotting.