Drugs for the Treatment of Leukocytosis

Definition

Leukocytosis is a clinical condition characterized by "an increase in leukocytes (white blood cells) in the blood, compared to the average reference values; however, leukocytosis does not always hide a pathology. Since white blood cells are involved in the defense mechanisms, the" an increase in the leukocyte count can in fact translate into a temporary physiological condition, the expression of an external attack in the organism.

Causes

The causes of origin of leukocytosis can be summarized as: asthma, allergic attacks, cancer, tissue damage (eg burns), pain, use of drugs for the treatment of depression, bacterial / viral / parasitic infections (especially pneumonia and chicken pox), inflammatory processes, leukemia (some variants), bone marrow diseases, emotional stress, autoimmune reactions, thrombocytopenia.

Symptoms

We speak of leukocytosis when the values ​​of leukocytes in the blood exceed the threshold value of 10,500 units per µl. Leukocytosis can trigger different symptoms depending on the severity, therefore the triggering disease and the leukocyte count: most often the affected patient complains of pain in the arms, high fever, weakness, difficulty concentrating, vision disturbances, loss of appetite, bruises, weight loss, bleeding, dizziness.

The information on Leukocytosis - Drugs for the Treatment of Leukocytosis is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Leukocytosis - Drugs to Treat Leukocytosis.

Medicines

Leukocytosis does not always require specific pharmacological or medical treatment: often, as mentioned, the leukocyte count in the blood increases following an insult to the organism, as a self-defense mechanism. However, when leukocytosis reflects a well-defined condition. more serious, the treatment becomes essential: the doctor, through an "accurate diagnostic analysis, will identify the cause that arises at the origins of the leukocytosis; consequently, the intervention will be subordinated to the triggering factor.
Here is an example: the assumption of some medicinal specialties can favor an increase of leukocytes in the blood: in such situations it is sufficient to suspend the drug and, possibly, to replace it with another pharmacological specialty that has the same therapeutic effect.
Some patients with leukocytosis, on the other hand, require an intravenous infusion of fluids and electrolytes.
The most commonly used drugs in therapy are summarized below:

1. Antibiotics: to ward off the bacterium involved in the infection, responsible, in turn, for the alteration of the white blood cell values ​​in the blood.
2. Antacids: indicated to reduce the acidity of the urine during therapy for the treatment of leukocytosis
3. Corticosteroids: Steroid drug therapy is sometimes recommended for their potent anti-inflammatory effect. It should be remembered, however, that such treatment also contributes to reducing the number of circulating leukocytes.
4. Chemotherapy: some severe forms of leukocytosis are induced by leukemia, therefore, the administration of chemotherapy drugs aimed at killing diseased cells is required, favoring the restoration of normal levels of leukocytes in the blood (for further information: read the article on drugs for the leukemia treatment)

Among the alternative therapeutic strategies to drugs, blood transfusion and bone marrow transplantation are the most accredited.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against leukocytosis, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

Antibiotic drugs for the treatment of bacterial-dependent infectious leukocytosis

• Penicillin or benzylpenicillin (eg Benzyl B, Benzyl P): to treat Streptococcus pyogene-dependent leukocytosis, it is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 2-8 million IU per day. The duration of therapy must be determined by the doctor.
• Moxifloxacin (eg Vigamox, Avalox, Octegra): as an alternative to penicillin, to treat streptococcus pyogene-dependent leukocytosis, take 400 mg per day of drug.
• Cefotaxime (eg. Cefotaxime, Aximad, Lirgosin, Lexor): the drug is a third generation cephalosporin, indicated to treat infections caused by E. coli also in the context of leukocytosis. Indicatively, it is recommended to take 2 grams of active every 12 hours. It is recommended to combine therapy with a drug belonging to aminoglycosides (eg tobramycin, at a dose of 3-5 mg / kg per day, in three equally divided doses, intravenously or intramuscularly).
• Erythromycin (eg. Erythrocin, Erythro L, Lauromycin): it is the drug of choice for the treatment of legionellosis: often, the disease also manifests itself with a modest or medium leukocytosis, treated with 500 mg of drug, to be taken 4 times per day The duration of therapy must be determined by the doctor.

Medicines to quit smoking

Smokers suffering from leukocytosis should stop smoking: it seems that the high level of nicotine or catecholamines in the blood heavily affects the manifestation of neutrophilic leukocytosis.
For further information: read the article on smoking cessation drugs

Steroid drugs for the treatment of severe leukocytosis

When the alteration of the leukocyte count proves particularly important, it is necessary to take corticosteroids, very useful for restoring the values ​​of white blood cells in the blood.
Below are listed only some active ingredients and the best known specialties, without however describing the dosage, always established by the doctor according to the severity of the leukocytosis.

• Prednisone (eg. Deltacortene, Lodotra)
• Methylprednisolone (e.g. Advantan, Solu-medrol, depo-medrol, Medrol, Urbason)
• Cortisone (eg. Cortis Acet, Cortone)

Antacid drugs for leukocytosis

These drugs are NOT used in therapy to normalize plasma leukocyte levels; more precisely, antacids are used to alleviate the symptoms resulting from a specific therapy for the treatment of leukocytosis. Many drugs taken, in fact, tend to increase the acidity of the urine; to solve this problem, the administration of antacid drugs is recommended.

• Sodium bicarbonate (eg citrosodine): this substance acts rapidly by neutralizing gastric acids, but has unpleasant side effects (alkalinization of the urine, swelling, hypersodemia). Consult your doctor.
• Sodium citrate and potassium citrate (eg. Bioketase): it is generally recommended to take 3 g of drug dissolved in water, every two hours so that the urinary pH exceeds 7; the maintenance treatment consists in the intake of 5- 10 g per day for a period of time set by the doctor.
• Aluminum hydroxide + magnesium hydroxide (e.g. maalox plus): take 2-4 tablets per day (500-1500 mg) with plenty of water, 20-60 minutes before meals and before bedtime.
• Magnesium hydroxide (eg magnesia): the drug, in addition to reducing the acidity induced by the treatment for leukocytosis, is also recommended for the treatment of constipation.