Leukocyte formula includes the definition of monocytes - one of the types of leukocytes responsible for phagocytosis. This is a very important biological process when one cell engulfs another, a cellular fragment, large molecular structures or antigen-antibody immune complexes. Thus, the immune system removes from the body its own dead, which have lost their function, atypical cells resulting from mutations, infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi) or their remnants.
Normally, the relative amount of MONO is 3-11%. An increase in this value - monocytosis - occurs when:
Most bacterial infections
Certain viral pathologies (infectious mononucleosis, measles, rubella, flu);
The introduction of protozoa (amebiasis, leishmaniasis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis);
Sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis;
Autoimmune processes;
Systemic connective tissue diseases;
Acute monocytic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma.
A decrease in the level (monocytopenia) usually has no specific causes and is associated with inhibition of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow against the background of:
Various deficiency conditions (iron, B vitamins, folic acid);
Myelosuppression (chemoradiation therapy);
Immunosuppression (treatment with glucocorticoids, HIV);
Severe condition of the body with sepsis, multiple organ failure;
Poisoning;
Severe forms of leukemia.
The study of monocytes should be carried out at each general blood test, which will allow timely detection of diseases with a long-term hidden clinical picture and start treatment on time.
