Predictive value of leucocytosis in head trauma.
OBJECTIVE
Head trauma is associated with an acute phase response which is characterized by leucocytosis due to increased levels of catecholamine and cortisol. Early edema formation following severe head injury may also be associated with microglia activation. Therefore, increased white blood cell (WBC) count after head trauma may be a predictive parameter of the severity of craniocerebral trauma.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 59 patients with severe, moderate and minor injury between February 2007 and March 2009. WBC counts of all patients were obtained within the first day of their admission. All patients were divided into separate groups according to their Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and hospital stay durations. Their CT progressions and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores were also assessed. The relationship between these parameters and WBC counts were evaluated by statistical methods.


RESULTS
There was a favorable correlation between WBC counts of the patients and GCS scores (pI0.01), hospital stay (p=0.006), CT progression (p < 0.01) and GOS scores (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
AWBC count exceeding 17.5 x 106/l has a predictive value for poor GCS score, and long hospital stay. CT progression tends to be seen in patients with moderate and severe head injury.
Gürkanlar
Doğa
D
Başkent University, Neurosurgery Department, Ankara, Turkey. dgurkanlar2000@yahoo.co.uk
Lakadamyali
Hatice
H
Ergun
Tarkan
T
Yilmaz
Cem
C
Yücel
Engin
E
Altinörs
Nur
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult