Monocyte is a type of white blood cell and is part of the human immune system. Monocytes play several roles in immune function.
These roles include:
• The replenishment of resident macrophages and dendritic cells under normal states
• Moving to sites of infection in the tissues in response to inflammation signals
Half of the monocytes in the body are stored in the spleen. A monocyte count forms part of a complete blood count and is usually expressed either as a ratio of monocytes to total number of white blood cells or by absolute numbers. Both forms may prove useful in determining or disproving a possible diagnosis.
Having an excess of monocytes in the peripheral blood is known as 'monocytosis'. It may be indicative of one of several conditions, including:
• Chronic inflammation
• Viral fever
• Stress response
• Immune-mediated disease
In contrast, monocytopenia is the condition associated with a deficiency of monocytes.
Having a high monocyte count and a low white blood cell count is a cause for concern that you should be sure to investigate fully, but it is not necessarily a sign of a serious medical problem. To put your mind at ease you should go and see your doctor as soon as possible so that you can understand fully what the situation is and whether you need to undergo any further tests to get to the bottom of the problem. It is always best to seek the advice of medical professionals and experts in a situation such as this, because they can provide you with help and advice that relates to your particular circumstances.
These roles include:
• The replenishment of resident macrophages and dendritic cells under normal states
• Moving to sites of infection in the tissues in response to inflammation signals
Half of the monocytes in the body are stored in the spleen. A monocyte count forms part of a complete blood count and is usually expressed either as a ratio of monocytes to total number of white blood cells or by absolute numbers. Both forms may prove useful in determining or disproving a possible diagnosis.
Having an excess of monocytes in the peripheral blood is known as 'monocytosis'. It may be indicative of one of several conditions, including:
• Chronic inflammation
• Viral fever
• Stress response
• Immune-mediated disease
In contrast, monocytopenia is the condition associated with a deficiency of monocytes.
Having a high monocyte count and a low white blood cell count is a cause for concern that you should be sure to investigate fully, but it is not necessarily a sign of a serious medical problem. To put your mind at ease you should go and see your doctor as soon as possible so that you can understand fully what the situation is and whether you need to undergo any further tests to get to the bottom of the problem. It is always best to seek the advice of medical professionals and experts in a situation such as this, because they can provide you with help and advice that relates to your particular circumstances.
