18 Hidden Causes of High Neutrophil Counts That Doctors Want You to Know

2. Certain Forms Of Leukemia

An individual's neutrophilia can be caused by certain forms of leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in bone marrow or blood-forming tissues. In the beginning stages of this type of leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excess amount of white blood cells. However, myeloblasts or immature white blood cells begin to accumulate in the patient's bone marrow and blood. This results in a decreased red blood cell and platelet production. Acute myeloid leukemia also causes neutrophilia, but on a much quicker timeline than its chronic form. Myelofibrosis is a chronic form of leukemia where a patient's bone marrow is replaced by scar tissue, resulting in too many red and white blood cells that do not fully mature and cannot function as healthy cells. Chronic neutrophilic leukemia is a slow-growing cancer of the bone marrow where it makes too many neutrophils. Acute neutrophilic leukemia also causes neutrophilia, but grows at a much faster rate.