A leukemoid reaction is defined as a clinical syndrome in which changes are found in
the peripheral blood suggesting leukemia. Usually, WBC count is elevated. Thus the
peripheral blood and bone marrow abnormalities return to normal when the cause has
disappeared. Leukemoid reactions occur in association with a variety of infections,
intoxications, malignant diseases and severe hemorrhage or sudden hemolysis.
This is to report a clinical study of 13 cases with leukemoid reaction who had been
admitted to the department of internal medicine, national medical center during the
period from January, 1981 to July, 1982.
The results obtained are as follows:
1) The male to female ratio was 1.6 : 1. The patient's age at the time of the first
evidence of disease ranged from 25 to 72 years with mean age of 48.2 years.
2) The analysis of underlying diseases in leukemoid reaction is 5 causes of infections
and malignant diseases each other, the other each one case is burn, PIE syndrome and
clonorchiasis.
3) The distribution of the type of leukemoid blood picture is 11 cartes of myeloid
leukemoid picture and 2 cases of eosinophilic leukemoid picture.
4) The hematologic findings in 13 cases revealed as follows: The mean Hgb value is
12.lg%, mean WBC count, 44,800/㎣ and mean platelet count, 326,800/ ㎣. Young
neutrophils on differential count were revealed and pattern of shift to left.
5) In 6 of 13 casas were studied neutrophil leukocyte alkaline phosphatase which
results were higher score than control in 5 cases.
6) In 8 of 13 cases were performed bone marrow aspiration, which revealed metastatic
carcinoma findings from bronchogenic CA in one case, two cases showed similar pattern
of C.M.L., one case showed similar pattern of eosinophilic leukemoid picture and remains
were not revealed specific findings.
7) The abnormal peripheral blood findings return to normal after disappearance of
underlying diseases in 9 of 13 cases and persistent of abnormal leukemoid blood pictures
in 4 of 5 cases of malignant diseases.
|