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What Causes A Drop In WBC Count?
Question: My WBC has been dropping for about the last year. 4. 3.8 3.2 then just last up a little to 3.3. It's always been around 4. But the last year it's dropped. I am a 43 year old white male. Also I have elevated ASO titers. I am on antibiotics for that right now. Can the two things be related? I am fatigued and have joint pain also.
Brief Answer:
medications can cause drop in counts
Detailed Answer:
yes. using certain medications can cause in drop in WBC counts. You mentioned you are on treatment for joint disorders. Certain immunosupressant drugs can cause drop in counts. If you are not on immunosupressive medication and still the counts are dropping, then you need to get investigated.
Low counts can also be part of disease process. Autoimmune conditions can cause low counts. Treatment of disease will bring back counts to normal.
Rarely malignancy can co existent. If your condition cannot be explained by any known causes and counts are not recovering, the final answer would be given by bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
medications can cause drop in counts
Detailed Answer:
yes. using certain medications can cause in drop in WBC counts. You mentioned you are on treatment for joint disorders. Certain immunosupressant drugs can cause drop in counts. If you are not on immunosupressive medication and still the counts are dropping, then you need to get investigated.
Low counts can also be part of disease process. Autoimmune conditions can cause low counts. Treatment of disease will bring back counts to normal.
Rarely malignancy can co existent. If your condition cannot be explained by any known causes and counts are not recovering, the final answer would be given by bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
I am not on any meds and this moment. Just antibiotic for my Elevated ASO titers. Can the ASO tite r be a reason for the white count to fall for the last year?
Thank you
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Rise in ASO will not cause fall in counts
Detailed Answer:
Rise in ASO is not a disease. ASO is an acute phase reactant which gets elevated in certain conditions. Treatment of infection brings ASO to normal. Streptococcal infections do not cause fall in counts. Infact the counts rise. If the counts are persistently low, bone marrow biopsy needs to be done.
Rise in ASO will not cause fall in counts
Detailed Answer:
Rise in ASO is not a disease. ASO is an acute phase reactant which gets elevated in certain conditions. Treatment of infection brings ASO to normal. Streptococcal infections do not cause fall in counts. Infact the counts rise. If the counts are persistently low, bone marrow biopsy needs to be done.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Also I was tested for lupus. RA and HIV. All came back negative. Is wbc count of 4 to 3.2 in a year a Big drop. Could it be my New normal level? You mentioned a bone marrow biopsy what does this test for? Thank you
Brief Answer:
bone marrow examination gives answer
Detailed Answer:
That is exactly why I said you need bone marrow examination. If all the tests for autoimmune disorders are negative, it is all the more indication for bone marrow examination. Bone marrow is the place for production of blood cells and any damage or insult to it results in suppression f counts. To know what the insult is, bone marrow biopsy is done where small piece of marrow is obtained with the help of needle and examined under microscope. If the marrow examination is normal, then we can conclude that the new level of blood count is normal to you.
bone marrow examination gives answer
Detailed Answer:
That is exactly why I said you need bone marrow examination. If all the tests for autoimmune disorders are negative, it is all the more indication for bone marrow examination. Bone marrow is the place for production of blood cells and any damage or insult to it results in suppression f counts. To know what the insult is, bone marrow biopsy is done where small piece of marrow is obtained with the help of needle and examined under microscope. If the marrow examination is normal, then we can conclude that the new level of blood count is normal to you.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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