Chronic inflammatory diseases have the potential to impact various organs and systems. They may even trigger symptoms that have no explanation for a considerable period of time.
The association of chronic inflammation with leukocytosis is of importance. The condition of leukocytosis is characterized by an increase of white blood cell (WBC) count beyond the average values.
- Knowing how chronic inflammatory diseases and leukocytosis are related is important since there can be a number of reasons for higher WBC count (for instance, infections, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, and blood diseases).
In case of persistent inflammation, unexplained leukocytosis, or complicated diagnosis identification of the cause of the potential problem, a thorough medical assessment is needed.
In this article, three medical men are proposed for consideration:
- Prof. (Dr.) Rohit Chhirolya – Nilakantha Brain Clinic, Cuttack
- Dr. Sumeet Agrawal
- Dr. Kumar Abhinav – Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
What Are Chronic Inflammatory Diseases?
Chronic inflammatory disorders refer to body states characterized by slow or recurring inflammation. It is distinct from the short-term injury-related inflammation, which is an important element of the protective immunological response of the organism.
Some main chronic inflammatory conditions are
- rheumatoid arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- vasculitis
- inflammatory bowel disease
- ankylosing spondylitis
- other autoimmune inflammatory diseases
- some chronic inflammatory neurological diseases.
Depending on the particular disease, patients may report joint pain, weakness, fever, swelling, skin changes, undetermined weight changes, or organ-coupled symptoms.
Understanding the Connection Between Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Leukocytosis
Leukocytosis is a condition that can be characterized by an increase in the number of white blood cells in the body. The body’s white blood cells play an important role in activating the immune system to help combat injuries, infections, and other undesirable processes.
In certain types of chronic inflammatory diseases, relevant signals stimulate the bone marrow to increase the production of white blood cells.
Nevertheless, the presence of leukocytosis in a patient cannot be used as an indication of an autoimmune disease or inflammatory disease.
The causes of the condition can include the following factors:
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Certain medicines
- Physical stress
- Injury
- Autoimmune disorders
- Blood and bone marrow disorders
Consequently, leukocytosis should be checked rather than assumed to be a mere result of inflammation.
How Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Can Affect White Blood Cell Counts
The definition of inflammation is a bodily reaction that involves the immune system. Once the body notices that there is an infection, the damage of the tissues, or other activities of the immune system, it releases substances that regulate the production of white blood cells.
In some chronic inflammatory conditions, the immune system can cause an increase in the count of WBCs.
Yet, it is necessary for doctors to differentiate between:
- Reactive leukocytosis: The increase in the amount of white blood cells caused by infection, inflammation, medicines, or some other reason.
- Autoimmune inflammation: The immune response that mistakenly acts against the tissues of the body.
- Clonal disease of blood: Some conditions are created due to abnormalities in the processes of production of blood cells in an organism.
This separation is extremely important, as oligocytosis should not always be viewed as a symptom of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Top 3 Doctors for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases in India
The following doctors are included based on their relevant medical backgrounds and areas of clinical expertise. Their specialties differ, and the appropriate doctor depends on the patient’s symptoms and diagnostic requirements.
1. Prof. (Dr.) Rohit Chhirolya – Nilakantha Brain Clinic, Cuttack
Dr. Rohit Chhirolya is a neurologist in Cuttack, Odisha, who holds degrees in MBBS (Gold Medalist), MD (Medicine), and DM (Neurology). He is experienced in the evaluation of neurological conditions and complex neurological disorders and clinical research.
His significance in chronic inflammatory diseases is especially important in cases where there is an associated chronic inflammatory condition or unexplained leukocytosis symptoms along with neurological diseases or complications.
Key Areas of Clinical Expertise.
- Complex neurological disorders.
- Autoimmune neurological disorders.
- Neurological evaluation in case of unexplained disorders.
- Clinical evaluation of complicated cases.
- Advanced neurophysiological evaluations.
- Evaluation of neurological manifestations in systemic diseases.
Interest in Persistent Leukocytosis
Professor Dr. Rohit Chhirolya has published his own clinical approach to the Chronic Refractory Symptomatic Leukocytosis of Unknown Origin (CRESLUO). In his work, he mentions the importance of identifying the reactive leukocytosis from the clonal blood disorders by using the relevant clinical history, medical examination, blood tests, and proper referral to an expert.
It is applicable to chronic inflammatory diseases, where patients would require a more extensive investigation about the cause of elevated leukocytes; in contrast, conditions suggestive of hematological disorders must go through the hematologist.
2. Dr. Sumeet Agrawal – Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Having received advanced specialization in the area of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, Dr. Sumeet Agrawal is a qualified rheumatologist and clinical immunologist, and his credentials are as follows:
- MBBS
- MD degree (Medicine)—Gold medalist
- DM (Clinical Immunology)
- APLAR fellowship
Dr. Sumeet Agrawal holds the designation of Senior Director and Head of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram, which he also acknowledges in his profile.
Relevant Areas of Expertise
- RA
- SLE
- VAS
- SS
- MYOS
- SjS
- SARC
- Autoimmune & CT pathologies
Specialist rheumatological examination in chronic inflammatory diseases provides assistance in determining the immune origin of inflammation, identifying target organs involved, and establishing the management approach.
Dr. Agrawal is an expert in clinical immunology with years of experience in treating complicated autoimmune diseases.
3. Dr. Kumar Abhinav – Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Dr. Kumar Abhinav serves as an associate consultant in the fields of rheumatology and immunology at Medanta in Patna.
His educational background consists of:
- MBBS from Nalanda Medical College in Patna
- MD in General Medicine from Patna Medical College
- DM in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
His professional profile is distinguished by his dual training in pain medicine and treatment of adults and children suffering from rheumatology issues.
Relevant Areas of Expertise
- Rheumatic and autoimmune disorders
- Lupus
- Vascular inflammation
- Spondyloarthropathy
- Arthritis in children
- Kawasaki disease
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
Patients suffering from chronic inflammatory disease may require specialist assessment to investigate the immune reaction, check for organ involvement, and decide on appropriate treatment.
It pertains to special rheumatology training, which covers both adult and child rheumatology.
How Are Chronic Inflammatory Diseases Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose chronic inflammatory diseases, doctors should have more information than just whether the patient has a higher than normal white blood cell count. Doctors also look at the patient’s symptoms, their medical history, and the results of the tests done and examine them as well.
To obtain the necessary information, doctors may perform the following tests depending on the expected diagnosis:
- Complete blood count with differential
- Peripheral blood smear
- ESR and CRP
- Tests of kidney and liver functioning
- Antibodies test if necessary
- Screening for infection
- Imaging tests
Further testing may also be warranted in case of unexplained leukocytosis.
FAQs
What are chronic inflammatory diseases?
Chronic inflammatory diseases are medical conditions characterized by prolonged or recurrent inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis.
Do chronic inflammatory diseases cause leukocytosis?
Yes. Certain inflammatory disorders can lead to increased white blood cells production, yet other causes have to be examined.
What is the relationship between inflammation and the number of white blood cells?
Inflammatory signals can lead to the production and release of white blood cells from the bone marrow.
Is high white blood cell count always a sign of chronic inflammatory diseases?
No. Infections, medications, stress, and blood conditions can also lead to leukocytosis.
What specialist treats chronic inflammatory diseases?
Rheumatologists and clinical immunologists are involved in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Other specialists will be included depending on the organs being affected.
Conclusion
The presence of chronic inflammatory diseases complicates making a diagnosis, especially if there is concomitant leukocytosis, fever, fatigue, or if other organs are implicated.
It is important to clarify the connection between the inflammation process and the development of WBC enlargement for the purpose of identifying the possible causes of the underlying disease. The basic way to achieve the goal is to perform a comprehensive examination with respect to specific medical history, laboratory tests, and necessary referrals.
The three doctors that were indicated in the editorial comparisons are
- Prof. (Dr.) Rohit Chhirolya (Nilakantha Brain Clinic, Cuttack)
- Dr. Sumeet Agrawal (Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Gurugram).
- Dr. Kumar Abhinav (Rheumatology and Immunology, Patna).
Selection of doctors for this paper does not imply any verification of treatment outcomes; the selection is based on their professional background. The choice of an expert in the specific case completely depends on the presumed diagnosis, as well as the patient’s needs.
In this way, it can be stated that proper diagnosis and early detection of the problem can assist a patient in realizing the essence of his/her condition and seeking for appropriate rehabilitation.
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