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Hi all....i so appreciate all the answers re: my tummy cramps and pain. what i am trying to get my mind around now is HOW those extra leucocytes in the gut actually are doing the damage and/or causing irritation. i have been reading a lot of the old posts and in other forums but still not clear.
a trip to ER 2 weeks ago revealed huge # of leucocytes in blood....ER Doc said they indicated my body was engaged in a huge battle of some sort, but he didn't know what....were they related to the ones in the gut?
i am on such a steep learning curve here, but will add info as I can to the community ....
Yes, they were almost certainly there due to the inflammation in your gut. A high white cell count indicates the presence of inflammation somewhere in the body, but doesn't usually offer any clues as to the location. IBDs cause intense inflammation, so they result in an elevated white cell count. Other issues can also cause a high white cell count, of course, including diseases such as luekemia.
Approximately 25% of leukocytes, (or leucocytes), are small white cells known as lymphocytes, which perform immune system functions, and include B cells, and T cells, (and others). They are sent out by the immune system to attack foreign invaders, (or perceived foreign invaders, (in the case of autoimmune diseases), and their presence at an "attack" site causes inflammation. IOW, as they attempt to destroy foreign invaders, (whether real or perceived), the surrounding tissue becomes inflammed, as it receives colateral damage, (just as the area of a major battle during an attack by military forces receives damage from the fighting).
To diagnose Lymphocytic colitis, a pathologist examines stained specimens from biopsy samples taken from the epithelium of a patient's colon. He or she looks for surface epithelial damage, (flattened or distorted appearance of surface cells), crypt distortion, mononuclear cellular infiltrate in the lamina propria, and intraepithelial lymphocytes. IOW, the number of lymphocytes present between the cells of the epithelia, (the surface layer of the colon), are actually counted, and if a certain threshold is exceeded, LC is indicated.
Good to have you on board! Wayne has already provided some good info. I'll just add a little more.
Usually with a chronic or viral infection, the white cell count is lower than usual....with an increase in the number of lymphocytes. Just like in MC - although, of course, it has not yet been proven that MC is due to infection. When the white cell count is higher than normal and there is an increase in the number of neutrophils, then we suspect an acute or bacterial infection. So it is important to know which kind of white cell (leukocyte) is increased.
Keep on asking questions - it's the way we learn around here!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
