Published: 23/02/2021
Keywords: lymphocyte, lymphocytosis, high, blood

What does a high count of lymphocytes in the blood mean?

Lymphocytosis is the increase in the total count of lymphocytes in the blood. Lymphocytes are a type of WBC (White Blood Cell).

The elevation of the total lymphocyte count is usually correlated to an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes. Lymphocyte % will be above the 40%. It is better to make the study with the total count of lymphocyte and not with the percentage.

A high lymphocyte count is usually due to an infection. The role of lymphocytes is to stop and remove foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. For that reason, there is a high count in the active phase of an infection.

The common causes of a lymphocytosis are:

Virus infection (mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus, viral hepatitis, etc.).
Bacterial infection (whooping cough, brucellosis, syphilis, etc.).

In elderly people, a lymphocytosis with no sign of infection may be due to leukemia (chronic lymphocytic leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia). In children, it may be due to viral infection (rubella, mumps, chickenpox, measles, etc.).

Lymphocytosis or a high lymphocyte count in the blood means:

Mild lymphocytosis (4 - 6 x 10³/µl in adults):

Lymphocyte count is a bit higher than normal. In middle-age people under 40 years old, the most common cause is a viral infection. The values will return to normal range in a few weeks.

A mid lymphocytosis with swollen lymph nodes and fatigue may be a sign mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus infection.

In children, it may be a consequence of suffering from mumps, chickenpox or other viral infections.

In elderly people (over 55 years old), if there is anemia (hemoglobin low), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) or neutropenia (low neutrophil count) it may be a sign of malignant cancer such as a lymphocytic leukemia.

Moderate lymphocytosis (6 - 20 x 10³/µl in adults):

A moderate lymphocytosis may be due to:

In children it is necessary to study a possible whooping cough, a bacterial infection.
In young people (under 40 years old) a moderate lymphocytosis after a week or more may be a sign of mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus infection.
In elderly people (over 50 years old) it is necessary to study a possible lymphocytic leukemia.

In any case, a visit to your doctor is recommended. He will study your case and he will give you an appropriate diagnosis.

Severe lymphocytosis (> 20 x 10³/µl in adults):

A severe lymphocytosis is usually related to a leukemia (blood cancer) such as chronic or acute lymphoblastic leukemia). A lymphocyte count above 100 is a possibility in this type of leukemia but such a high value it does not seem to be related to the severity of the disease.

There is also a disease called acute infectious lymphocytosis that runs with a severe lymphocytosis (between 40 and 80) but with a good prognosis.

Which factors can increase the lymphocyte count in the blood?

There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your lymphocyte count:

Vigorous exercise

Stress

Tobacco

Drugs

Antiasthmatic drugs
- Isoprenaline
- Salbutamol
Antibiotics
- Cephalosporin
- Minocycline
Antiepileptic drugs
- Valproate
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- Lamotrigine
Antifungal
- Griseofulvin
Antipsychotics
- Haloperidol
Antituberculars
- 4-Aminosalicylic acid
Catecholamine
- Epinephrine
L-DOPA
Niacinamide
Opiate
- Morphine
Uricosuric
- Allopurinol

Which diseases can increase your lymphocyte count in the blood?

A lymphocyte count higher than normal may be a sign of the following diseases:

Mononucleosis
Cytomegalovirus
Whooping cough
Viral hepatitis
Brucellosis
Mumps
Chickenpox
Measles
Rubella
Syphilis
Toxoplasmosis
Rickettsiosis

Tuberculosis
Herpes
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute infectious lymphocytosis
Heavy chain disease
Thyrotoxicosis
Cat-scratch disease
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Addison's disease

Which values are considered a high lymphocyte count in the blood?

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in number of thousands/µl (microliter). They are an example of a healthy white woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

Lymphocytes
Mild lymphocytosis
4.1 x10³/µl	4.2 x10³/µl	4.3 x10³/µl	4.4 x10³/µl	4.5 x10³/µl	4.6 x10³/µl	4.7 x10³/µl	4.8 x10³/µl
4.9 x10³/µl	5 x10³/µl	5.1 x10³/µl	5.2 x10³/µl	5.3 x10³/µl	5.4 x10³/µl	5.5 x10³/µl	5.6 x10³/µl
5.7 x10³/µl	5.8 x10³/µl	5.9 x10³/µl	6 x10³/µl
Moderate lymphocytosis
6.1 x10³/µl	6.2 x10³/µl	6.3 x10³/µl	6.4 x10³/µl	6.5 x10³/µl	6.6 x10³/µl	6.7 x10³/µl	6.8 x10³/µl
6.9 x10³/µl	7 x10³/µl	7.1 x10³/µl	7.2 x10³/µl	7.3 x10³/µl	7.4 x10³/µl	7.5 x10³/µl	7.6 x10³/µl
7.7 x10³/µl	7.8 x10³/µl	7.9 x10³/µl	8 x10³/µl	8.1 x10³/µl	8.2 x10³/µl	8.3 x10³/µl	8.4 x10³/µl
8.5 x10³/µl	8.6 x10³/µl	8.7 x10³/µl	8.8 x10³/µl	8.9 x10³/µl	9 x10³/µl	9.1 x10³/µl	9.2 x10³/µl
9.3 x10³/µl	9.4 x10³/µl	9.5 x10³/µl	9.6 x10³/µl	9.7 x10³/µl	9.8 x10³/µl	9.9 x10³/µl	10 x10³/µl
10.1 x10³/µl	10.2 x10³/µl	10.3 x10³/µl	10.4 x10³/µl	10.5 x10³/µl	10.6 x10³/µl	10.7 x10³/µl	10.8 x10³/µl
10.9 x10³/µl	11 x10³/µl	11.1 x10³/µl	11.2 x10³/µl	11.3 x10³/µl	11.4 x10³/µl	11.5 x10³/µl	11.6 x10³/µl
11.7 x10³/µl	11.8 x10³/µl	11.9 x10³/µl	12 x10³/µl	12.1 x10³/µl	12.2 x10³/µl	12.3 x10³/µl	12.4 x10³/µl
12.5 x10³/µl	12.6 x10³/µl	12.7 x10³/µl	12.8 x10³/µl	12.9 x10³/µl	13 x10³/µl	13.1 x10³/µl	13.2 x10³/µl
13.3 x10³/µl	13.4 x10³/µl	13.5 x10³/µl	13.6 x10³/µl	13.7 x10³/µl	13.8 x10³/µl	13.9 x10³/µl	14 x10³/µl
14.1 x10³/µl	14.2 x10³/µl	14.3 x10³/µl	14.4 x10³/µl	14.5 x10³/µl	14.6 x10³/µl	14.7 x10³/µl	14.8 x10³/µl
14.9 x10³/µl	15 x10³/µl	15.1 x10³/µl	15.2 x10³/µl	15.3 x10³/µl	15.4 x10³/µl	15.5 x10³/µl	15.6 x10³/µl
15.7 x10³/µl	15.8 x10³/µl	15.9 x10³/µl	16 x10³/µl	16.1 x10³/µl	16.2 x10³/µl	16.3 x10³/µl	16.4 x10³/µl
16.5 x10³/µl	16.6 x10³/µl	16.7 x10³/µl	16.8 x10³/µl	16.9 x10³/µl	17 x10³/µl	17.1 x10³/µl	17.2 x10³/µl
17.3 x10³/µl	17.4 x10³/µl	17.5 x10³/µl	17.6 x10³/µl	17.7 x10³/µl	17.8 x10³/µl	17.9 x10³/µl	18 x10³/µl
18.1 x10³/µl	18.2 x10³/µl	18.3 x10³/µl	18.4 x10³/µl	18.5 x10³/µl	18.6 x10³/µl	18.7 x10³/µl	18.8 x10³/µl
18.9 x10³/µl	19 x10³/µl	19.1 x10³/µl	19.2 x10³/µl	19.3 x10³/µl	19.4 x10³/µl	19.5 x10³/µl	19.6 x10³/µl
19.7 x10³/µl	19.8 x10³/µl	19.9 x10³/µl	20 x10³/µl
Severe lymphocytosis
20.1 x10³/µl	20.2 x10³/µl	20.3 x10³/µl	20.4 x10³/µl	20.5 x10³/µl	20.6 x10³/µl	20.7 x10³/µl	20.8 x10³/µl
20.9 x10³/µl	21 x10³/µl	21.1 x10³/µl	21.2 x10³/µl	21.3 x10³/µl	21.4 x10³/µl	21.5 x10³/µl	21.6 x10³/µl
21.7 x10³/µl	21.8 x10³/µl	21.9 x10³/µl	22 x10³/µl	22.1 x10³/µl	22.2 x10³/µl	22.3 x10³/µl	22.4 x10³/µl
22.5 x10³/µl	22.6 x10³/µl	22.7 x10³/µl	22.8 x10³/µl	22.9 x10³/µl	23 x10³/µl	23.1 x10³/µl	23.2 x10³/µl
23.3 x10³/µl	23.4 x10³/µl	23.5 x10³/µl	23.6 x10³/µl	23.7 x10³/µl	23.8 x10³/µl	23.9 x10³/µl	24 x10³/µl
24.1 x10³/µl	24.2 x10³/µl	24.3 x10³/µl	24.4 x10³/µl	24.5 x10³/µl	24.6 x10³/µl	24.7 x10³/µl	24.8 x10³/µl
24.9 x10³/µl	25 x10³/µl	25.1 x10³/µl	25.2 x10³/µl	25.3 x10³/µl	25.4 x10³/µl	25.5 x10³/µl	25.6 x10³/µl
25.7 x10³/µl	25.8 x10³/µl	25.9 x10³/µl	26 x10³/µl	26.1 x10³/µl	26.2 x10³/µl	26.3 x10³/µl	26.4 x10³/µl
26.5 x10³/µl	26.6 x10³/µl	26.7 x10³/µl	26.8 x10³/µl	26.9 x10³/µl	27 x10³/µl	27.1 x10³/µl	27.2 x10³/µl
27.3 x10³/µl	27.4 x10³/µl	27.5 x10³/µl	27.6 x10³/µl	27.7 x10³/µl	27.8 x10³/µl	27.9 x10³/µl	28 x10³/µl
28.1 x10³/µl	28.2 x10³/µl	28.3 x10³/µl	28.4 x10³/µl	28.5 x10³/µl	28.6 x10³/µl	28.7 x10³/µl	28.8 x10³/µl
28.9 x10³/µl	29 x10³/µl	29.1 x10³/µl	29.2 x10³/µl	29.3 x10³/µl	29.4 x10³/µl	29.5 x10³/µl	29.6 x10³/µl
29.7 x10³/µl	29.8 x10³/µl	29.9 x10³/µl	30 x10³/µl	30.1 x10³/µl	30.2 x10³/µl	30.3 x10³/µl	30.4 x10³/µl
30.5 x10³/µl	30.6 x10³/µl	30.7 x10³/µl	30.8 x10³/µl	30.9 x10³/µl	31 x10³/µl	31.1 x10³/µl	31.2 x10³/µl
31.3 x10³/µl	31.4 x10³/µl	31.5 x10³/µl	31.6 x10³/µl	31.7 x10³/µl	31.8 x10³/µl	31.9 x10³/µl	32 x10³/µl
32.1 x10³/µl	32.2 x10³/µl	32.3 x10³/µl	32.4 x10³/µl	32.5 x10³/µl	32.6 x10³/µl	32.7 x10³/µl	32.8 x10³/µl
32.9 x10³/µl	33 x10³/µl	33.1 x10³/µl	33.2 x10³/µl	33.3 x10³/µl	33.4 x10³/µl	33.5 x10³/µl	33.6 x10³/µl
33.7 x10³/µl	33.8 x10³/µl	33.9 x10³/µl	34 x10³/µl	34.1 x10³/µl	34.2 x10³/µl	34.3 x10³/µl	34.4 x10³/µl
34.5 x10³/µl	34.6 x10³/µl	34.7 x10³/µl	34.8 x10³/µl	34.9 x10³/µl	35 x10³/µl	35.1 x10³/µl	35.2 x10³/µl
35.3 x10³/µl	35.4 x10³/µl	35.5 x10³/µl	35.6 x10³/µl	35.7 x10³/µl	35.8 x10³/µl	35.9 x10³/µl	36 x10³/µl
36.1 x10³/µl	36.2 x10³/µl	36.3 x10³/µl	36.4 x10³/µl	36.5 x10³/µl	36.6 x10³/µl	36.7 x10³/µl	36.8 x10³/µl
36.9 x10³/µl	37 x10³/µl	37.1 x10³/µl	37.2 x10³/µl	37.3 x10³/µl	37.4 x10³/µl	37.5 x10³/µl	37.6 x10³/µl
37.7 x10³/µl	37.8 x10³/µl	37.9 x10³/µl	38 x10³/µl	38.1 x10³/µl	38.2 x10³/µl	38.3 x10³/µl	38.4 x10³/µl
38.5 x10³/µl	38.6 x10³/µl	38.7 x10³/µl	38.8 x10³/µl	38.9 x10³/µl	39 x10³/µl	39.1 x10³/µl	39.2 x10³/µl
39.3 x10³/µl	39.4 x10³/µl	39.5 x10³/µl	39.6 x10³/µl	39.7 x10³/µl	39.8 x10³/µl	39.9 x10³/µl	40 x10³/µl
40.1 x10³/µl	40.2 x10³/µl	40.3 x10³/µl	40.4 x10³/µl	40.5 x10³/µl	40.6 x10³/µl	40.7 x10³/µl	40.8 x10³/µl
40.9 x10³/µl	41 x10³/µl	41.1 x10³/µl	41.2 x10³/µl	41.3 x10³/µl	41.4 x10³/µl	41.5 x10³/µl	41.6 x10³/µl
41.7 x10³/µl	41.8 x10³/µl	41.9 x10³/µl	42 x10³/µl	42.1 x10³/µl	42.2 x10³/µl	42.3 x10³/µl	42.4 x10³/µl
42.5 x10³/µl	42.6 x10³/µl	42.7 x10³/µl	42.8 x10³/µl	42.9 x10³/µl	43 x10³/µl	43.1 x10³/µl	43.2 x10³/µl
43.3 x10³/µl	43.4 x10³/µl	43.5 x10³/µl	43.6 x10³/µl	43.7 x10³/µl	43.8 x10³/µl	43.9 x10³/µl	44 x10³/µl
44.1 x10³/µl	44.2 x10³/µl	44.3 x10³/µl	44.4 x10³/µl	44.5 x10³/µl	44.6 x10³/µl	44.7 x10³/µl	44.8 x10³/µl
44.9 x10³/µl	45 x10³/µl	45.1 x10³/µl	45.2 x10³/µl	45.3 x10³/µl	45.4 x10³/µl	45.5 x10³/µl	45.6 x10³/µl
45.7 x10³/µl	45.8 x10³/µl	45.9 x10³/µl	46 x10³/µl	46.1 x10³/µl	46.2 x10³/µl	46.3 x10³/µl	46.4 x10³/µl
46.5 x10³/µl	46.6 x10³/µl	46.7 x10³/µl	46.8 x10³/µl	46.9 x10³/µl	47 x10³/µl	47.1 x10³/µl	47.2 x10³/µl
47.3 x10³/µl	47.4 x10³/µl	47.5 x10³/µl	47.6 x10³/µl	47.7 x10³/µl	47.8 x10³/µl	47.9 x10³/µl	48 x10³/µl
48.1 x10³/µl	48.2 x10³/µl	48.3 x10³/µl	48.4 x10³/µl	48.5 x10³/µl	48.6 x10³/µl	48.7 x10³/µl	48.8 x10³/µl
48.9 x10³/µl	49 x10³/µl	49.1 x10³/µl	49.2 x10³/µl	49.3 x10³/µl	49.4 x10³/µl	49.5 x10³/µl	49.6 x10³/µl
49.7 x10³/µl	49.8 x10³/µl	49.9 x10³/µl	50 x10³/µl	50.1 x10³/µl	50.2 x10³/µl	50.3 x10³/µl	50.4 x10³/µl
50.5 x10³/µl	50.6 x10³/µl	50.7 x10³/µl	50.8 x10³/µl	50.9 x10³/µl	51 x10³/µl	51.1 x10³/µl	51.2 x10³/µl
51.3 x10³/µl	51.4 x10³/µl	51.5 x10³/µl	51.6 x10³/µl	51.7 x10³/µl	51.8 x10³/µl	51.9 x10³/µl	52 x10³/µl
52.1 x10³/µl	52.2 x10³/µl	52.3 x10³/µl	52.4 x10³/µl	52.5 x10³/µl	52.6 x10³/µl	52.7 x10³/µl	52.8 x10³/µl
52.9 x10³/µl	53 x10³/µl	53.1 x10³/µl	53.2 x10³/µl	53.3 x10³/µl	53.4 x10³/µl	53.5 x10³/µl	53.6 x10³/µl
53.7 x10³/µl	53.8 x10³/µl	53.9 x10³/µl	54 x10³/µl	54.1 x10³/µl	54.2 x10³/µl	54.3 x10³/µl	54.4 x10³/µl
54.5 x10³/µl	54.6 x10³/µl	54.7 x10³/µl	54.8 x10³/µl	54.9 x10³/µl	55 x10³/µl	55.1 x10³/µl	55.2 x10³/µl
55.3 x10³/µl	55.4 x10³/µl	55.5 x10³/µl	55.6 x10³/µl	55.7 x10³/µl	55.8 x10³/µl	55.9 x10³/µl	56 x10³/µl
56.1 x10³/µl	56.2 x10³/µl	56.3 x10³/µl	56.4 x10³/µl	56.5 x10³/µl	56.6 x10³/µl	56.7 x10³/µl	56.8 x10³/µl
56.9 x10³/µl	57 x10³/µl	57.1 x10³/µl	57.2 x10³/µl	57.3 x10³/µl	57.4 x10³/µl	57.5 x10³/µl	57.6 x10³/µl

Medically reviewed by our Medical staff on 23/02/2021

Bibliography

Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 260.
A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Test. 9th edition. Frances Fischbach. Marshall B. Dunning III. 2014. Pag 79. ISBN-10: 1451190891.
Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures with nursing diagnoses (8th ed), Jane Vincent Corbett, Angela Denise Banks, ISBN: 978-0-13-237332-6, Pag. 52.
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Version 5.0.Published: November 27, 2017. U.S. Department of health and human Services. Available on: https://ctep.cancer.gov

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Blood test

High lymphocyte count in the blood

Summary

What is a high count of lymphocytes in the blood called?

What is the normal count of lymphocytes in the blood?