Noncancerous Conditions

Disease Information & Support // Managing Your Cancer // Newly Diagnosed: First Steps // Understanding Your Diagnosis // Lab and Imaging Tests // Blood Tests // Understanding Blood Counts // Noncancerous Conditions

If one or more of your blood cell counts is higher or lower than normal, your doctor tries to find out why. About 5 percent of healthy people will have test results outside of the "normal" range. Many noncancerous conditions can contribute to low or high blood cell counts, such as those in the table below.

	Red Cells	White Cells	Platelets
High counts	smoking carbon monoxide exposure chronic lung disease kidney disease certain forms of heart disease alcoholism liver disease conditions that affect the body's fluid level	infection inflammation severe physical or emotional stress (such as fever, injury or surgery) burns kidney failure lupus rheumatoid arthritis malnutrition, thyroid problems certain medicines	bleeding mild to moderate iron deficiency problems with bone marrow function
Low counts	anemia from too little iron, folic acid or vitamin B₁₂ bleeding inflammatory bowel disease other diseases that might cause malnutrition certain drugs	infection chemotherapy and other medicines malaria alcoholism AIDS lupus enlarged spleen	pregnancy idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura hemolytic uremic syndrome autoimmune diseases

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can also affect blood cell counts. Measurements usually return to normal once treatment is completed.

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