Often, when you take a blood test, it turns out thatthat in human blood lymphocytes are elevated. What does this unpleasant situation indicate? Lymphocytes are called cells of the protective (immune) system. They are produced by the bone marrow of our body. These cells are responsible for the recognition of any foreign microorganisms and the corresponding response to them. In order to find out the reason for the increase in their blood levels, it is necessary to understand what such a blood test shows. Lymphocytes are elevated in many cases, but it’s worth understanding their very essence.

There are several types of these cells. So T-lymphocytes formed in the thymus gland (thymus) are responsible for determining the specific type of microorganisms. It is on these cells that the timely and accurate response to the entry of pathogens depends. These lymphocytes are subdivided into “killers”, which suppress the growth of microorganisms, and also destroy the diseased cells of the body; "Helpers" that enhance immunity, and "suppressors" that suppress the response of the immune system. This type of lymphocytes makes up about 80% of their total number.

B lymphocytes are produced by lymphoid tissueslymph nodes, tonsils, spleen and small intestine. They produce antibodies (special proteins) that find viruses, tumor cells, bacteria and destroy them. The number of these bodies can reach a specific weight of 15% (of all lymphocytes).

The least total in human blood is NK lymphocytes. Their number does not exceed 10%. These cells are responsible for preventing various tumors and infections.

In a healthy person, lymphocytes are normal.account for up to 36-40% of the total number of leukocytes. Such data in the analysis recorded in absolute terms in the following form: 1.0-3.6 * 10 (9) / l. It is within these limits that the number of lymphocytes is considered normal. In childhood, their level varies greatly and may vary. In infancy, it ranges from 9 to 32 * 10 (9) / l. With age, these figures decrease and by the age of 18 reach absolute values ​​of 1-4 * 10 (9) / l.

Lymphocytes are elevated during viral infections.(flu, viral hepatitis, whooping cough, measles, rubella), non-viral infections (diphtheria, malaria, typhoid fever, syphilis), tocoplasmosis, blood diseases (lymphocytic leukemia, lymphosarcoma). Sometimes an increase in the number of such cells in the blood is due to the intake of drugs.

Lymphocytes are elevated in the state of lymphocytosis. It indicates an increase in the number of these cells in the blood that circulates outside the blood-forming organs. It is classified into 2 types: absolute and relative. The emergence of a particular type depends on the disease occurring in the body. Relative lymphocytosis, or an increase in the proportion of lymphocyte concentrations in a completely normal absolute amount, occurs most frequently. It appears in diseases that tend to decrease other types of white blood cells. Such lymphocytosis is characteristic of viral infections, inflammatory diseases, typhoid, brucellosis.

Absolute lymphocytosis indicatesabsolute increase in the number of lymphocytes. It is observed in acute infections. It is characteristic of rubella, measles, scarlet fever, tuberculosis. It appears in lymphosarcoma.

In chronic infections and inflammations, accompanied by infiltration of the lesion by the lymphocytes themselves, both types of lymphocytosis in the blood can be observed.

If the lymphocytes are elevated in an adult, it cantestify to such diseases as infectious mononucleosis, viral hepatitis, secondary syphilis, bronchial asthma, viral hepatitis, serum sickness, endocrine diseases, Addison's disease, thymic hyperplasia. Often this condition appears when B12-deficient anemia, a decrease in ACTH and GC, prolonged fasting, ovarian hypofunction, acromegaly.</ strong </ p>