Resolved question:
I am a generally healthy 26 year old male, and I just got blood work done as part of an annual physical.
my lymph % is a little bit high at 46%
and my total lymph is a little bit high at 3.2
I am a bit of a worrier, so this concerns me because I haven't had any recent infections! (That I know of...a cold a couple months ago...)
I looked back at my physical results from 15 months ago and my lymph % was 30% and total was 1.7
Is this, absent of other symptoms, a big cause for concern?
edit: WBC is exactly the same in both reports, at 6.8 (normal). Nothing else it out of the ordinary. No other weird symptoms. (no weight loss, fatigue, etc). I do take claritin and flonase daily for bad seasonal allergies. Also xanax for anxiety as needed.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello. Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern. Your lymphocytes are definitely elevated, however since you have no other symptoms i won't be worried about it. Lymphocytes can be elevated in a lot of diseases starting from any kind of acute viral/ bacterial infection, TB, Whooping Cough, Mononucleosis, HIV, and some cancers. But all these issues will cause other symptoms which are absent in your case. So there is nothing to worry about. If you do have other symptoms you can mention in the follow up and then we can come to a diagnosis.
If you do not have any other associated symptoms then it is better to wait for 2 weeks and get your CBC test done again just to evaluat your lymphocyte values.
Please do not worry,
Regards
That's interesting. Over the past year, I've been really healthy. I haven't missed any work, and haven't had any major illnesses. (no fevers, night sweats, weight loss, etc) Is there always the possibility the immune system is fighting something off "behind the scenes" and thus causing elevated lymph?
The only other possible symptom is that I do have allergic congestion/cough, but I've always attributed that to allergies in the summer. My eyes are watering as we speak (allergies!)
Also, I have read in some places that all the way up to 4.0 is still reasonable and not "high" Is that true?
I could definitely get it tested again in a few weeks. AY yi yi. As an anxiety sufferer, this is like a nightmare to me.
Hello. Thank you for writing to us again.
If you trust me, there is absolutely nothing to worry about here or there is no cause to panic. If your body was fighting ' behind the scenes ' and it was significantly high, you will have enlarged lymph nodes all over your body which will be easily visible and also you will have the associated symptoms which you yourself said you don't have. Sometimes lab values can alter like that. If you ask me, i have absolutely no reason to worry in your case. I will just advise you to get a repeat CBC test done in may be a couple of weeks' time and then get back to me with your reports.
Hope this is helpful.
Please don't panic.
Regards