High monocytes can also be a side effect of medication.
Monocytes are white blood cells, part of the immune system that helps fight infections and diseases.
There are no symptoms of high monocytes.
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Monocytosis happens when your bone marrow is producing too many monocytes, a key in ofwhite blood cell.
These help your body identify and fight infection from viruses, bacteria, and other microbes.
Monocytosis can be temporary, like when the body needs more monocytes to fight a bacterial or viral infection.
Long-term overproduction of monocytes, however, may indicate a chronic health condition.
High monocyte levels are associated with:
Physical, emotional, or mental stress can temporarily increase monocyte levels.
Even exercise or a poor night’s sleep can raise monocytes.
When you are under chronic stress, prolonged high monocyte levels can occur.
Elevated monocytes are also found in mental health conditions, including depression.
Research suggests specific monocytes may be useful biomarkers for identifying people with depression at risk of suicide.
Monocytes are assessed using acomplete blood count (CBC)with differential.
This blood test measures blood cells and provides a detailed breakdown of the number and proportion of different types.
Some issues that cause monocytosis will cause other numbers to be off, giving clues to the cause.
For example, antibiotics are prescribed to treat a bacterial infection.
People with leukemia (cancers of the blood) may be treated with chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.
Sometimes, a related condition may need to be treated as well.
Monitoring During Treatment
During treatment, you may need to have your monocyte levels checked repeatedly.
Testing at regular intervals helps to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
For some types of leukemia, all blood cells are periodically monitored to determine the effects of treatment.
Prevention
High monocytes are a sign your immune system is hard at work.
If you have a high monocyte count, you may need diagnostic testing to determine the cause.
You also may need treatment for any underlying medical illness that is causing monocytosis.
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2023;12(19):6163. doi:10.3390/jcm12196163
Cleveland Clinic.Monocytes.
