Lyme disease, transmitted by infected ticks, affects various physiological systems, including blood composition. Understanding its typical impact on blood cell counts can clarify its effects.
Lyme Disease and Blood Cell Counts
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, can lead to changes in blood cell counts. However, a high red blood cell count (erythrocytosis or polycythemia) is not a commonly recognized direct outcome. Instead, Lyme disease is more frequently linked to other abnormalities in a complete blood count.
Individuals with Lyme disease may experience a mild decrease in red blood cells, a condition called anemia. This anemia is often mild and can sometimes be attributed to co-infections, such as babesiosis. Babesiosis parasites directly infect and destroy red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. This co-infection can result in symptoms similar to Lyme disease, including fatigue, fever, and body aches, making diagnosis challenging.
Beyond red blood cells, Lyme disease can also affect white blood cell and platelet counts. A decrease in white blood cells (leukopenia) may occur, particularly if co-infections like ehrlichiosis or anaplasmosis are present. Similarly, low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) are not commonly severe in Lyme disease alone but can be a feature of co-infections. Significant leukopenia or thrombocytopenia in a patient with suspected Lyme disease should prompt consideration of such co-infections.
Understanding Elevated Red Blood Cell Counts
An elevated red blood cell count makes the blood thicker, potentially slowing its flow and increasing the risk of blood clots. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Numerous factors unrelated to Lyme disease commonly cause elevated red blood cell counts. Dehydration, for instance, can lead to a falsely high count due to reduced blood fluid volume. Lifestyle choices like smoking or living at high altitudes can also stimulate the body to produce more red blood cells to compensate for lower oxygen levels.
Certain medical conditions are also frequent causes. Chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema, or heart conditions that reduce blood oxygen levels, can trigger increased red blood cell production. Kidney diseases or tumors may lead to an overproduction of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell creation. A rare blood cancer, polycythemia vera, causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells due to a genetic mutation. Given these varied causes, any abnormal blood test results warrant consultation with a healthcare professional to determine the underlying reason and appropriate management.