Immune markers

A Cleveland Clinic study published in JAMA Network Open showed that lymphopenia is associated with death due to heart disease, cancer and respiratory infections, including influenza and pneumonia. The strength of the association increased when it presented in combination with elevated red blood cell distribution width and CRP.

1.     Absolute lymphocyte count is used to quantitate lymphocytes in peripheral blood (rather than the percentage of lymphocytes in the WBC differential count). ALC (cells/microL) = WBC (cells/microL) x percent lymphocytes ÷ 100. Normal values for ALC generally correspond to 1000 to 4000 lymphocytes/microL.

2.      The red cell distribution width (RDW), is an indicator of the degree of variation in RBC size (ie, anisocytosis). RDW has been proposed as a tool to distinguish iron deficiency (elevated RDW) from thalassemia trait (normal RDW) in samples with low MCV.

3.     CRP: <0.3 mg/dL (3 mg/L), is normal

CRP concentrations >1 mg/dL (10 mg/L) as indicating clinically significant inflammation while concentrations between 0.3 and 1 mg/dL (3 and 10 mg/L) indicate what is commonly referred to as low-grade inflammation

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA