What does it mean if your monocyte levels are high?
Monocytosis or a monocyte count higher than 800/µL in adults indicates that the body is fighting an infection. Monocytosis or a monocyte count higher than 800/µL in adults indicates that the body is fighting an infection. Some conditions that may attribute to a high monocyte count include: Viral infections such as infectious mononucleosis, mumps, and measles.
What causes elevated monocytes?
The following are some of the conditions that may be risk factors for elevated monocyte levels:
- viral infections, such as infectious mononucleosis, mumps, and measles
- parasitic infections
- bacterial infections, including tuberculosis (TB)
- chronic inflammatory disease
- autoimmune diseases Trusted Source , such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease
What causes elevated monocytes count?
Monocytosis can also occur due to diseases such as cancer, in which case a high monocyte count may be persistent and require treatment. Having excessive monocytes due to disease can be associated with inadequate monocyte function, a predisposition to infection, and other blood cell abnormalities.
What does it mean when your monocytes are high?
Your monocyte level and overall white blood count are likely to rise in response to:
- acute stress
- blood disorders
- immune response
- infection
- inflammation
What is a normal range for monocytes?
What is a normal range for my monocyte count? A normal monocyte count is between 2% and 8% of your white blood cell count. This equals about 200 to 800 monocytes per microliter of blood in healthy adults. If your monocyte count is outside those ranges, you're at risk of acquiring a monocyte-related condition.
Should I be concerned if my monocytes are high?
If you have a high monocyte count, it's likely due to an infection or another medical cause. If your monocytes are elevated due to an infection, they will get back to normal levels when the infection resolves. If they are elevated due to a medical condition, you would need medical treatment.
What cancers cause high monocytes?
The most common sign of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is having too many monocytes (seen on a blood test). Having too many monocytes also causes many of the symptoms of CMML.
Is 13 high for monocytes?
An absolute monocyte count above 10 percent , or 800 per mm3, is considered high. It's called monocytosis and might mean your body is responding to something.
How high are monocytes percentage in leukemia?
High monocyte levels (greater than or equal to 1×109 cells per liter) have increased for at least 3 months, with monocytes making up more than 10 percent of WBCs. Blast cells make up less than 20 percent of cells in the blood or bone marrow, with no signs of AML.
Can stress cause high monocytes?
Acute stress increases monocyte levels and modulates receptor expression in healthy females. Brain Behav Immun.
What chronic infections cause high monocytes?
An increased percentage of monocytes may be due to:Chronic inflammatory disease.Leukemia.Parasitic infection.Tuberculosis, or TB (bacterial infection that involves the lungs)Viral infection (for example, infectious mononucleosis, mumps, measles)
What is mild monocytosis?
Monocytosis is an increase in the number of monocytes circulating in the blood, with a level above 950/microLiter usually considered elevated. In patients with a normal leukocyte count, differentials with equal to or greater than 10% monocytes can also be considered monocytosis.
Can stress cause high monocytes?
Acute stress increases monocyte levels and modulates receptor expression in healthy females. Brain Behav Immun.
What is the symptoms of leukemia?
SymptomsFever or chills.Persistent fatigue, weakness.Frequent or severe infections.Losing weight without trying.Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen.Easy bleeding or bruising.Recurrent nosebleeds.Tiny red spots in your skin (petechiae)More items...
What Does a High Monocyte Count Mean?
A high monocyte count — also called monocytosis — is often associated with chronic or sub-acute infections. It can also be linked with some types of cancer, especially leukemia. A high monocyte count can occur when you are recovering from an acute infection.
What Is a Normal Monocyte Count?
Monocytes normally make up between 2% and 8% of your total white blood cells. The complete range of normal white blood cells includes:
What Are Monocytes?
Monocytes are a type of white blood cell. They are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the bloodstream. They fight certain infections and help other white blood cells remove dead or damaged cells and fight cancer cells. After a few hours, monocytes move from the blood to tissues — such as lung, liver, or spleen tissue — and are then called macrophages.
What are monocytes called?
After a few hours, monocytes move from the blood to tissues — such as lung, liver, or spleen tissue — and are then called macrophages . Monocytes are one of the five different types of white blood cells. The others include: Lymphocytes create antibodies to fight against viruses and bacteria.
What causes monocytosis?
Some conditions that can cause monocytosis include: Endocarditis, a heart valve infection. Tuberculosis, a lung infection. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease. Collagen vascular disorders, an inflammation of the collagen and joints. Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease.
What is the purpose of eosinophils?
Eosinophils help with your body's allergic response and kill cancer cells and parasites.
How to tell if a WBC is normal?
A WBC differential is done by collecting a sample of your blood from a vein or by pricking your finger.
What does it mean when your monocyte count is higher than 800?
Monocytosis or a monocyte count higher than 800/µL in adults indicates that the body is fighting an infection.
What causes a high monocyte count?
Some conditions that may attribute to a high monocyte count include: Viral infections such as infecti ous mononucleosis, mum ps, and measles. Parasitic infections such as malaria or kala-azar. Chronic inflammatory disease such as sarcoidosis. Tuberculosis.
What is the largest white blood cell in the blood?
In general, monocytes are the largest white cells in the blood. Monocytes are capable of motion and eating of infectious agents, red cells, and other large particles. The functions of monocyte include: The average monocytes range from 2-8% of the circulating white blood cells.
How do monocytes help other white blood cells?
Help other white blood cells eliminate dead and damaged tissues. Destroy cancer cells. Regulate immunity against foreign substances. The average monocytes range from 2-8% of the circulating white blood cells. Monocytes are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the blood.
What is the term for a cancerous condition where the monocytes in the bone marrow begin to grow?
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (a cancerous condition where the monocytes in the bone marrow begin to grow out of control)
What is Langerhans cell histiocytosis?
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (a disorder where the cells called histiocytes and eosinophils flourish in the lungs, often causing scarring)
Where are monocytes produced?
Monocytes are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the blood. After being in the blood for a few hours, monocytes move to different tissue. Here, they are converted into macrophages, which act as scavenger cells of the immune system. A high or low monocyte count itself does not cause any symptoms.
What are Monocytes?
Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cell. Approximately 2 to 10% of white blood cells are monocytes [ 1 ].
Monocyte Reference Ranges
The normal ranges for monocytes may be reported in a few different units. Ask your doctor to help you interpret your lab test results. The normal ranges are:
High Levels of Monocytes (Monocytosis)
Monocytosis is a condition in which the number of monocytes circulating in the blood is increased to more than 0.8×109/L in adults.
Low Levels of Monocytes (Monocytopenia)
In monocytopenia, the number of monocytes circulating in the blood is decreased to less than 0.2×109/L in adults. Monocytopenia itself does not appear to produce symptoms, and patients usually only show symptoms related to an associated condition. Such symptoms may include fatigue and fever [ 20, 57 ].
Further Reading
Have you recently had your monocyte count tested? Want to learn about what your results mean? Check out these posts:
Why are monocytes high in blood?
Although infections are the most common cause of high levels of monocytes in the blood, this can also occur due to a carcinogenic or inflammatory process . Our blood contains many more cell types and substances than most people typically know.
Why are monocytes elevated?
For example, if the levels are slightly elevated, it’s probably due to a mild infection. On the other hand, if the levels are excessively high, they may be indicative of leukemia.
What is the monocyte?
As we mentioned above, monocytes are cells that belong to the immune system. They’re key players in inflammatory and infectious processes. Medical professionals consider their levels high when their amount exceeds 8% of all blood cells. High levels of monocytes in the blood don’t have to cause symptoms.
What are some examples of cells in the blood?
Our blood contains many more cell types and substances than most people typically know. A good example of this is monocytes. Monocytes are immune system cells that circulate in the blood. The bone marrow produces monocytes, which then reach various tissues through the blood. When they reach the tissues, they become macrophages ...
What are monocytes responsible for?
They’re responsible for removing certain waste products and dangerous elements from the body. Moreover, these cells also act in inflammatory processes. Overall, monocytes represent between 4 and 8% of the total cells in the blood.
Why do monocytes rise?
This is the most common cause. Monocyte levels elevate both due to a simple infection, such as a cold, as well as a chronic infection, like tuberculosis. However, blood tests that show high levels of monocytes are non-specific.
What are the most common causes of transient infections?
The truth is that infections are the most common cause, even if they’re transient infections. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The most common of these is rheumatoid arthritis. Blood disorders. Carcinogenic processes, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
How many monocytes are high in leukemia?
Certain types of leukemia. What’s considered “high” monocytes may vary between labs and organizations, but it’s usually diagnosed if more than eight or nine percent of your white blood cells are monocytes over a series of tests.
Why are monocytes abnormal?
Symptoms of an Abnormal Monocyte Count. Because monocyte counts outside of the normal range are symptoms of an immune response or health issue, they will not produce any unique symptoms. You may, however, be experiencing symptoms of a condition that leads to irregular monocyte levels.
What Are Monocytes?
When your body gets an infection or needs some dead cells removed, monocytes are a key player. They are part of the team that helps keeps you healthy. In other words, monocytes function as part of your immune system.
Why do monocytes remove dead cells?
Monocytes also remove dead cells from infection sites to aid the healing process. Of course, there are certain instances where your immune system is overactive or under-responsive. In these cases, monocyte activity may indicate harm—chronic inflammation—or leave you exposed to invaders. However, monocyte count or activity is not a symptom ...
How to determine monocyte count?
Your monocyte count is determined by undergoing a blood differential test, which examines the makeup of your body’s population of blood cells. There are a number of different types of white blood cells circulating in your bloodstream, and ideally, monocytes represent between one percent and 10% of them. The details of your monocyte count may help ...
What is the role of macrophages in the immune system?
A macrophage is a type of phagocyte, which is an immune cell responsible for detecting, engulfing, and destroying harmful microorganisms (pathogens) and foreign materials like bacterial or viral infections. Monocytes should represent about one percent to 10% of your circulating white blood cells. Your levels can be tested as part ...
Why do you need a monocyte test?
That said, a blood test to distinctly measure monocyte counts is only done if a person is showing a range of symptoms that indicate an infection or autoimmune disorder.
Overview
Monocytes are a type of white blood cell (leukocytes) that reside in your blood and tissues to find and destroy germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa) and eliminate infected cells. Monocytes call on other white blood cells to help treat injury and prevent infection.
Function
Monocytes are your cell’s firefighters. Their lifecycle begins in the bone marrow (soft tissue inside of your bones) where they grow and train to protect your body. Once they mature, they enter your bloodstream and tissues to defend your body against foreign invaders, like germs.
Anatomy
Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cell and are nearly twice the size of a red blood cell. Under a microscope, monocytes are easy to identify based on their size. Monocyte cells have a two-bodied nucleus (bilobed nuclei) center that floats in a contained fluid called cytoplasm.
Conditions and Disorders
Conditions vary based on the number of monocytes in your blood. Your monocyte count can be too high or too low as a result of your body fighting an infection or disease.
Why do people have high monocytes?
High absolute monocyte count. The body may make more monocytes once an infection is detected or if the body has an autoimmune disease. If you have an autoimmune disease, cells such as monocytes go after healthy cells in your body by mistake. People with chronic infections tend to have elevated levels of monocytes, too.
Which has higher monocyte counts, men or women?
Men tend to have higher monocyte counts than women.
How do monocytes become macrophages?
Monocytes rest until they’re activated to become macrophages. Exposure to pathogens (disease-causing substances) can start the process of a monocyte becoming a macrophage. Once fully activated, a macrophage can release toxic chemicals that kill harmful bacteria or infected cells.
What percentage of white blood cells are monocytes?
Typically, monocytes make up 2 to 8 percent of total white blood cell count. Absolute monocyte test results can range slightly, depending on the method used for the test and other factors. According to Allina Health, a non-profit healthcare system, normal results for absolute monocytes fall into these ranges: Age range.
What is the largest white blood cell?
Monocytes are the largest of the white blood cells and are three to four times the size of red blood cells. These big, powerful defenders aren’t plentiful in the bloodstream, but they’re vital in protecting the body against infections.
Why do we need to check monocytes?
Monocytes are helpful at fighting infections and diseases, such as cancer. Getting your absolute monocyte levels checked as part of a routine blood test is one way to monitor the health of your immune system and your blood. If you haven’t had a complete blood count done lately, ask your doctor if it’s time to get one.
Why do monocytes have low absolute levels?
Causes of low absolute monocyte count include: chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which can injure bone marrow.
