Leukaemoid reaction

Question 1

what is leukamoid reaction ?

Answer 1

presence of immature cells such as myeloblasts, promyelocytes and nucleated red cells in the peripheral blood

due to infiltration of the bone marrow causing the immature cells to be ‘pushed out’ or sudden demand for new cells

Question 2

etiology of leukamoid reaction ?

Answer 2

severe infection

severe haemolysis

massive haemorrhage

metastatic cancer with bone marrow infiltration

Question 3

dd of leukamoid reaction

Answer 3

clinical problem is differentiating chronic myeloid leukaemia from a leukaemoid reaction

Question 4

diagnosis of leukamoid reaction

Answer 4

high leucocyte alkaline phosphatase score (unlike cml which is low -LAP found within mature white blood cells and therefore can be used to assist in differentiating between a leukaemoid reaction and CML)

toxic granulation (Dohle bodies) in the white cells

‘left shift’ of neutrophils i.e. three or fewer segments of the nucleus