title: Sustained leukocyte count during rising cortisol level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To follow the trend of leukocyte counts relative to the serum cortisol levels in hospitalized patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 59 hospitalized patients who had sequential blood profiles during a 2-week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study cohort was divided into two subgroups according to the categorical cortisol levels: those within the normal range (< 25 microg/dl; n = 31 patients) and those above the normal range (> or = 25 microg/dl; n = 28 patients). The baseline white blood cell counts (WBCCs) were similar in both groups. After 1 week, however, the WBCCs dropped significantly in the presence of normal cortisol levels and increased in the presence of elevated cortisol levels (p = 0.002). This pattern was not followed by the platelet counts. A significant correlation was observed between the cortisol levels and the 1 week concomitant WBCC (r = 0.33).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cortisol may be the mechanism with a positive effect on the maintenance of elevated leukocyte counts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lerner-Geva
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reches
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boyko
authors.forename: Rona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Limor
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grisaru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007297:Inpatients; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone