title: White cell count and intensive care unit outcome.
abstract: A high white cell count on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) is generally perceived to be associated with severe illness and poor outcome, but the implications of a low white cell count are less well recognised. We retrospectively analysed data on 4,165 patients. The white cell count on admission was split into four categories, leucopenic (< 4.0 x 10(9).l(-1)), normal (4.001-10.0 x 10(9).l(-1)), leucemoid (10.001-25.0 x 10(9).l(-1)) and an exaggerated leucemoid response (> 25.001 x 10(9).l(-1)). The mortality of patients with leucopenia on admission to the intensive care unit was higher than those with normal or moderately raised white cell count (37.5% vs. 18.9% and 23.9%, respectively). A leucopenic response, as well as an exaggerated leucemoid response, is associated with an increased mortality.
authors.affiliation: Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baldock
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soni
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D007955:Leukemoid Reaction / Q000401:mortality*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000401:mortality*; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate