Causes of Absolute Increased Numbers (>500/mm³):

• monocytic leukemias

• myeloproliferative disorders

• myelodysplastic syndrome

• Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas

• lipid storage diseases (e.g., Gaucher's)

•  postsplenectomy state

• tetrachloroethane poisoning

• subsidence of an acute infection

• recovery from agranulocytosis

• protozoan infections

• rickettsial infections

• most commonly are some indolent bacterial infections (SBE, TB, brucellosis)

• chronic ulcerative colitis; regional enteritis (Crohn's); sprue

• sarcoidosis

• collagen diseases

Causes of Absolute Decreased Numbers:

REFERENCES:

1. Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests, 7th Ed., Jacques Wallach, 2000.