Extreme leucocytosis: not always leukaemia.
Three patients were analysed for an extreme leucocytosis (>50x10(9)/l) because leukaemia was suspected. In all three patients the leucocytosis proved to be caused by a leukaemoid reaction. This reaction was associated with a hepatic angiosarcoma in the first patient, with a Salmonella infection in the second patient and with a necrotic leg abscess in the third patient. Retrospectively, 25 patients with a leukaemoid reaction were identified in our hospital during a four-year period. Besides leukaemia, a leukaemoid reaction, which often has a dismal prognosis, should be considered in patients with an extreme leucocytosis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Meander Medical Centre, Amersfoort, the Netherlands. C.J.M.Halkes@lumc.nl
C J M
CJ
Halkes
H M
HM
Dijstelbloem
S J
SJ
Eelkman Rooda
M H H
MH
Kramer
D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D007938:Leukemia; D007955:Leukemoid Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000150:complications