Does sickle cell trait affect the white blood cells? Does it cause a low white blood cell count?
Yep. It can cause lower WBC Count. Let me count the ways: Directly by neutrophils adhering to vascular walls along with sickled RBCs indirectly secondary to hyper-spleenism causing pancytopenia from Hydroxyurea the only medication approved for treatment of sickle cell. (Not to mention that African decent is one of the genetic predispositions to idiopathic leukopenia.) ………………………………..… low white blood count Sometimes the cause of a low white blood cell count can’t be determined (idiopathic). Known causes of a low white blood cell count (leukopenia) include: Infections, such as viral infections and HIV Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus Certain medications, especially those used in chemotherapy and some antibiotics Radiation therapy Bone marrow disease, such as leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes White blood cells help fight infection in your body. A normal white blood cell count ranges from 4,500 to 10,000 cells per microliter of blood. A mild decrease in white
