Blood values for pneumonia

Introduction

In addition to the occurrence of physical symptoms, pneumonia usually also leads to a change in blood values. By taking blood samples from the affected persons, the blood can be examined in the laboratory for signs specific to inflammation, and in the case of positive infection values, this can support the diagnosis of pneumonia.

This is what the blood values for pneumonia look like

In the case of pneumonia, there is usually a change in certain blood values, including in particular the white blood cells and the CRP the so-called C-reactive protein. The white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, belong to the body’s defence cells, so their function is to fight bacteria and other pathogens. The large group of leukocytes includes granulocytes, which are specifically responsible for the defence against bacteria, and lymphocytes, which play a major role in the defence against viruses.

In the context of pneumonia their number increases accordingly, this is called leukocytosis in medical terminology. In the case of a bacterial infection, a large number of the above-mentioned granulocytes are often found in the affected persons. However, these granulocytes are often not yet fully mature and are still in various stages of development in the blood.

In medicine, this phenomenon is known as left-shifting. Furthermore, an increase of the C-reactive protein, also known as CRP, is observed. This is a protein that occurs during an inflammation.

However, it is very unspecific and can occur in many infections. Procalcitonin is also typical of bacterial pneumonia, and is elevated during the course of the infection. Procalcitonin is considered to be much more specific than CRP in the context of pneumonia, as it increases especially in bacterial infections whereas CRP can be elevated in the context of various diseases.

Furthermore, an increased blood sedimentation rate (BSG) can occur. This is also rather an unspecific value, which can also be changed in the context of anaemia, for example. CRP is the abbreviation for C-reactive protein.

It is a protein that occurs more frequently in the blood during infections. An increased concentration of CRP in the blood can also occur during inflammation or tissue breakdown. In the context of pneumonia, an increased CRP level must be expected.

However, since this is a very unspecific value, the mere occurrence of an increase in CRP does not explicitly indicate pneumonia, but rather that “something is going on in the body”. The level of the CRP value, in turn, can indicate the severity of a disease. Particularly high values are therefore to be regarded as an indication of a serious infection or disease.

Leukocytes are also called white blood cells. They are a large group of blood cells that are particularly specialised in the defence against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. The leukocytes are further subdivided into lymphocytes and granulocytes.

Pneumonia leads to an increase in the number of white blood cells or granulocytes because their main function is to fight bacteria. The granulocytes can then be found in increased concentration in the blood values. In medical terminology, an increased amount of white blood cells is called lymphocytosis.

Under this abnormally increased concentration of granulocytes, it is also noticeable that they are predominantly in immature states. There is also a medical term for this circumstance – the left shift. In summary, the typical, even if not specific to the disease, characteristics of pneumonia include an increase in the white blood cells or their subgroup of not yet mature blood cells, the so-called granulocytes.