Can a high white cell count be caused by C.O.P.D, a Pituitary gland tumour, or female problems?

Question

I went to the eye Dr for vision problems and headaches. THey ordered a cat scan that revealed a problem with my P.T. gland (a macroadenoma) and they've asked me to get an MRI next. The blood work they did is back and it's indicating I have a very high white cell count. The tests results also read "Sed Rate-Westergren-- 40". The normal range for that was 0 to 20. I don't even have a clue as to WHAT that is. But it's kind of scaring me. I won't see the Dr. about the results until after the MRI is all done and I'm currently waiting for the appt to made and for the Dr's office to call me. I'm worried.... Because I know about the Leaukemia. As for an infection, the only infection I know of is a cyst that won't heal up and go away (had it for almost a year now). I also have recently starting having a problem with C.O.P.D. and have something called Complex Hyperplasia.

I'd appreciate any serious replys...... Thanks.

Answer 1

White blood cell count (WBC)

WBC tests measure the number of white blood cells present. When you have an infection, your body makes more white blood cells. Some medications can decrease the number of white blood cells, which could increase your chances of getting an infection.


So the high count of WBC or leucocytosis might be attributed to an UTI. c o mmon among women.


Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

This test, also called "sed rate," determines if you have inflammation. The sed rate can measure the amount of inflammation present. The test measures how fast red blood cells cling together, fall, and settle toward the bottom of a glass tube in an hour's time, like sediment. The higher the sed rate, the greater the amount of inflammation. As inflammation responds to medication, the sed rate usually goes down. This is an example of a test your doctor might order several times. Another test used to measure this is the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test.


What is a Pituitary Tumor?


Pituitary tumors (adenoma's) are benign tumors that account for approximately 10%-20% of all brain tumors. There are several types of pituitary tumors, each having different effects on the body.

Listed below are the most common of pituitary tumors.

Pituitary Microadenoma:

less than 1cm in size

Pituitary Macroadenoma:

greater than 1cm in size. Macroadenoma’s can become quite large and spread into the cavernous sinus, which contains the carotid artery and cranial nerves. Macroadenoma’s can also compress the optic nerves and the patient will begin to lose peripheral vision if the tumor is not removed.

Pituitary Prolactinoma:

it is the most common of pituitary tumors. This benign tumor produces an overabundance of the hormone prolactin.

Other Pituitary Tumors:

appearing in or near the pituitary. These tumors can cause acromegaly or Cushing's syndrome, may block the flow of dopamine from prolactin secreting cells to the brain




I'm sorry to hear about your multiple health problems. Bear in mind though, that some neurologic symptoms are indicative with Cushing disease vs. pituitary macroadenomas. The treatment of a pituitary tumor is guided by whether it is a carcinoma (a malignant tumor) or adenoma (a benign tumor). Treatment of an adenoma depends on whether it is functional and, if so, which hormone is secreted, and whether it is a microadenoma or macroadenoma.

Pituitary tumors are treated by surgery, by medicines that block hormone secretion by the tumors or block the symptoms caused by these hormones, or by radiation therapy. Sometimes a combination of 2 or more of these treatments is used. Surgery is done to remove the tumor, while drugs can relieve symptoms and sometimes shrink the tumor.


I'm sorry to hear about your health saddled with a lot problems. Your COPD might be related to smokng.
About the complex hyperplasia.


The most current research indicates that two key factors are the most meaningful: 1) whether the hyperplasia is “simple” or “complex,” and 2) whether “atypical cells” (also called “atypia”) are present in the endometrium. Atypia can be present in either simple or complex hyperplasia, so there are four basic types in all.


In simple hyperplasia without atypia, there is proliferation of cells, but the basic structure of the endometrium is relatively unchanged. This is considered to be the least dangerous type of hyperplasia. Other terms that are approximately the same as simple hyperplasia are mild, cystic, or Swiss-cheese hyperplasia.


In complex hyperplasia without atypia, the individual cells may be enlarged, but, as in simple hyperplasia, the internal makeup of the cells is considered to be normal. However, the cells have proliferated to the point where the normal structure of the endometrium is interfered with. Glands crowd each other, and under a microscope the architecture is jumbled and less regular. Other descriptors in this general category are adenomatous, moderate, or glandular hyperplasia.


If atypia is NOT present, these two types of hyperplasia, taken together, have been found to have a 1-4% chance of becoming endometrial cancer. Now, whenever you see a statistic like this, you should then ask, “what are the chances of getting endometrial cancer in any case? What are the chances of any random woman getting endometrial cancer?” The answer to that question is “about 3%”. Therefore, these types of hyperplasia are now NOT generally considered to be precancerous. Most of the time, they respond to progestin therapy, which causes the endometrium (and the problem) to be sloughed off as it would be during a normal period. Additionally, if you are in perimenopause, this means that there is a very good chance that your menopause will solve the problem altogether.


What does it mean when atypical cells are present? Atypia means that the cells themselves have become abnormal. This is a similar case to cervical dysplasia. Although these cells are not cancerous, there is an increased probability that they will become so. We can think of them of "going towards" cancer, but not yet "arrived".


Remembering that atypia also can be divided into simple and complex, simple hyperplasia with atypia would be next on the list. This less common type of hyperplasia often responds to progestin therapy. It has an 8% chance of progressing to cancer.


This leaves complex hyperplasia with atypia, which is the one to look out for. Approximately 25-30% of hyperplasia in this category will progress to endometrial cancer. For this reason, the suggested treatment for atypical complex hyperplasia is usually hysterectomy. However, if you are interested in preserving your uterus, you should know that even this category is on a continuum from mild to severe.


Mild complex hyperplasia with atypia often responds to progestin therapy. So if this is your case, then you might want to inquire about this option. However, the more severe the atypia, the less chance it will reverse itself with hormone therapy. In one study, only 20% of the cases of severe atypia responded to progestin, and fairly often (25-45% of the time) when hysterectomies are performed on these patients, previously undetected endometrial cancer is found. Of course, all decisions about treatment in an individual case would be made in conjunction with a physician. My friend Connie does have complex atypical hyperplasia. She is 64, and is taking hormone replacement therapy. Because of her higher risk for endometrial cancer, she will be having a hysterectomy.


Even when hyperplasia does lead to cancer, there is good news, which is that endometrial cancer is slow to grow and spread, and almost always shows itself early as non-menstrual bleeding, which is also the chief symptom of hyperplasia. If women are alert to this symptom, most endometrial cancer and pre-cancer can be eliminated before
it becomes life-threatening.


Good Luck!

Answer 2

a high white blood cell count usually means you are fighting some kind of infection...a very common cause for a high white blood cell count in women is a urinary tract infection. do you feel sleepy or lethargic? this is also a sign of an infection somewhere in the body. if you have a urinary tract infection you will be sleepy and feel a slightly strange sensation when you pee. you should make a follow up appointment with your doctor and have him/her test your urine. good luck!

Answer 3

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