Leukemoid reaction

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Jogeet Singh Sekhon, M.D. [2]

Overview

Leukemoid reaction is a reversible increase in production of white blood cells in response to a stimulus, with white blood cell count of more than 25000-30000 per mm³ . Leukocytosis is increase in white blood cell count of more than 10,000 per mm3 and when the count exceeds 25000, with more than 2% immature white blood cells but absence of any blast cells, differentiating it from leukemias. Leukemoid reaction is classified according to the type of hematopoietic lineage of the bone marrow. Leukemoid reactions are mostly triggered by bacterial or viral infections. Leukemoid reaction is differentiated from leukemias by the absence of blast cells on peripheral blood film and high LAP score. Leukemoid reaction can lead to serious complications such as tumor lysis syndrome and DIC. The treatment includes treating the underlying cause and leukapheresis.

Historical Perspective

• Leukemoid reaction was discovered in 1926 by Krumbharr.

Classification

Leukemoid reaction can be classified according to the type of hematopoietic lineage of the bone marrow.

• Reactions of myeloid type:
  1. Neutrophilic leukemoid reactions
  2. Eosinophilic leukemoid reactions
• Reactions of lymphoid type:
  1. Lymphomonocytic leukemoid reactions
  2. Lymphocytic leukemoid reactions
  3. Plasmocytic leukemoid reactions
• Leukemoid reaction with blast cells
• Secondary (reactive) thrombocytosis
• Secondary erythrocytosis
• Mixed forms of leukemoid reactions
• Rare forms of leukemoid reaction
• Leukemoid reactions of basophilic type.

Pathophysiology

• Leukemoid reaction is a reversible increase in production of white blood cells in response to a stimulus, with white blood cell count of more than 25000-30000 per mm³.
• Leukocytosis is increase in white blood cell count of more than 10000 per mm3 and when the count exceeds 25000, with more than 2% immature white blood cells but absence of any blasts, differentiating it from leukemias.
• Leukemoid reaction is classified according to the type of hematopoietic lineage of the bone marrow.
• It is a reactive, functional condition of hematopoietic, lymphatic and immune systems secondary to various diseases accompanied by the development of immature white blood cells in the peripheral blood.
• Leukemoid reaction is diagnosed after the exclusion of a malignant hematological disorder and is a transient condition. white blood cells return to normal when the underlying causes disappear.
• There are no signs of inhibition of normal hematopoiesis.
• Leukemoid reactions are mostly triggered by bacterial or viral infections, emergency stress irritants, and by various bacterial and non-bacterial stimulants causing sensitization.
• The sensitization causes up-regulation of growth or survival factors (eg, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, c-kit ligand), adhesion molecules (eg, CD11b/CD18), and various cytokines (eg, interleukin-1, interleukin-3, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor).
• There is activation of normal hematopoiesis and excessive blood cells output to peripheral blood (reactive hyperplasia of leukopoietic tissue) and output of immature blood cells into peripheral blood.
• The image below demonstrates a graphic figure that illustrates hematopoietic growth factors in leukocytosis.

Hematopoietic growth factors in leukocytosis, By Hematopoietic_growth_factors.svg: Rod Flower; Humphrey P. Rang; Maureen M. Dale; Ritter, James M. (2007) Rang & Dale's pharmacology, Churchill Livingstone ISBN: 0-443-06911-5.User:Mikael Häggström and A. Radderivative work: Furfur - This file was derived from: Hematopoietic growth factors.svg:, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31083166

• Reactions of myeloid type are characterized by a shift to the left, from an increased number of stab cells to singular blast cells with presence of all intermediate forms.
• There is an increase in immature granulocytes of myeloid lineage.
  • Neutrophilic leukemoid reactions develop in Infections (sepsis, scarlet fever, abscess, diphtheria, lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, dysentery, etc), exposure to ionizing radiation, Injuries of the skull, intoxication (uremia, CO poisoning), bone marrow metastases of malignant tumors.
  • Eosinophilic reactions develop in allergic processes or in diseases with allergies, as well as in parasitic diseases. They are characterized by the development of a great number of eosinophils, about 90% of leukocytes.
• Lymphomonocytic leukemoid reactions develop in infectious mononucleosis, there are atypical mononuclear cells, called "lymphomonocytes" which are modulated T- and NK-lymphocytes, which get to the bloodstream by initiation of B lymphocytes. The number of atypical mononuclear cells can be increased in any viral infection.
• Lymphocytic leukemoid reactions develop in acute viral and bacterial infections and are characterized by leukocytosis with absolute lymphocytosis.
• Plasmocytic leukemoid reactions occur in diseases caused by protozoa (toxoplasmosis), viral infections (chickenpox, measles, rubella). Increased level of plasma cells (2%) in splenomegaly, blood and bone marrow.
• Leukemoid reactions with blast cells develop in severe viral infections (cytomegalovirus, etc.). Blast transformation of B-lymphocytes may be observed in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood.
• Secondary absolute erythrocytosis is caused by increased erythropoiesis, relative hemoconcentration and polycythemia. It is characterized by increased red blood cell count.
• Secondary thrombocytosis is possible in malignant tumors, inflammatory diseases, following bleeding, hemolytic crises, after surgical operations and splenectomy.

Causes

• Neutrophilic leukemoid reactions :
  • Infections - sepsis, scarlet fever, abscess, diphtheria, lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, dysentery
  • Exposure to ionizing radiation.
  • Injuries of the skull.
  • Intoxication (uremia, CO-poisoning).
  • Bone marrow metastases of malignant tumors - Lymphogranulomatosis
  • Steroid hormones therapy
• Eosinophilic reactions :
  • Allergic processes or in diseases with allergies, as well as in parasitic diseases.
• Lymphomonocytic leukemoid reactions:
  • Infectious mononucleosis.
• Lymphocytic leukemoid reaction:
  • Acute viral and bacterial infections
• Plasmocytic leukemoid reactions:
  • Diseases caused by protozoa (toxoplasmosis), and viral infections (chickenpox, measles, rubella).
• Thrombocytosis:
  • Primary thrombocytosis- chronic myeloproliferative diseases.
  • Secondary thrombocytosis-
    • Malignant tumors
    • Inflammatory diseases
    • Following bleeding
    • Hemolytic crises
    • After surgical operations and splenectomy.
• Leukemoid reactions of basophilic type:
  • Allergic reactions
  • Hemolytic anemia
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Leukemia.

Differentiating Leukemoid reaction from Other Diseases

Leukemoid reaction is differentiated from leukemia by following ways:

Differential diagnosis of leukemia vs leukemoid reaction

Differentiating features	Leukemia	Leukemoid reaction
Causes	Carcinogens	Infectious agents, biologically active substances and products of tissue destruction
Pathogenesis	The transformation of normal haematopoietic cells to a tumor	Activation of normal hematopoiesis and exit of immature leukocytes into the bloodstream.
Duration	Chronic	Temporary and reversible
Genetic level	Defect	No defect
Splenomegaly	Present	Not present
Peripheral blood	Immature cells, pancytopenia	Mature and immature granulocytes with left shift
Bone marrow	Increase in blasts and immature cells	Myeloid hyperplasia and normal morphology
LAP score	Low	High
Toxic granules (suggestive of infection)	Absent	Present
Dohle inclusion bodies	Absent	Present

Leukemoid reaction should be differentiated from other causes of leucocytosis. The below table discusses different causes of leucocytosis:

Category	Condition	Etiology	Mechanism				Congenital	Acquried	Clinical manifestations											Para−clinical findings								Gold standard	Associated findings
									Demography	History	Symptoms			Signs
																				Lab Findings
			Physiologic	Increased bone marrow production		Demargination of peripheral blood neutrophils					Appearance	Fever	Abdominal pain	BP	Asplenia	Hepatosplenomegaly	Lymphadenopathy	Joint involvement	Other	CBC			PBS	Bone marrow exam	ESR/CRP	BUN/Cr	LFT
				Autonomous	Reactive															WBC	HB	Plt
Hematologic	Hereditary neutrophilia	Unknown Germline mutation in CSF3R	−	+	−	−	+	−	Rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder	Positive family history	Normal	−	−	Nl	−	+	−	−	−	↑	Nl	Nl	Normal granulocytes Histiocytes of Gaucher type	Nl	Nl	Nl	Nl	Molecular testing	High leukocyte alkaline phosphatase Progress to leukemia
	Myeloproliferative neoplasms	Unknown Mutation	−	+	−	−	+	+	Elderly	Exposure to Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Tobacco smoke	Petechiae Purpura Diffuse erythematous rash	±	+	Nl	−	+	−	−	Shortness of breath Fatigue	↑/↓	↓	↑/↓	Large platelets Ovalomacrocytosis Basophilic stippling Howell-Jolly body Pelger-Huet anomaly Ring sideroblasts	Impaired myeloid maturation Dyserythropoiesis Dysgranulopoiesis Dysmegakaryocytopoiesis Hypercellular bone marrow Fibrosis	↑	Nl	Nl	Bone marrow examination + clinical manifestation	Thrombosis at unusual sites Thrombosis in younger patients Might transformed to acute leukemia
	Polycythemia vera	Autonomous erythrocyte production JAK2 mutation (> 95%)	−	+	−	−	+	−	Mean age >60 years old	Stroke Visual disturbance	Facial plethora	−	−	↑	−	+	+	−	Painful erythema	Nl to ↑	↑	↑	Elevated normochromic, normocytic RBCs Thrombocytosis ≥ 10% immature myeloid precursors Leukoerythroblastic picture	Increased myeloid:erythroid ratio due to granulocytic proliferation	Nl	Nl	Nl	Bone marrow examination + clinical manifestation	Stroke Venous thrombosis Myelofibrosis Acute leukemia
	Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA)	Microangiopathy Leukemoid reaction	−	+	−	−	+	+	Any	Bleeding disorder Positive family history	Pallor	+	+	↓	−	+	−	−	Shortness of breath Fatigue	↑	↓	↑	Fragmented RBCs Schistocytes	NA	↑	↑	↑	Bone marrow examination + clinical manifestation	Non-immune hemolysis Elevated LDH Elevated alkaline phosphatase Negative direct Coomb's test Thrombosis
	Leukoerythroblastosis	Space-occupying lesions in the bone marrow Infection	−	+	−	−	−	+	Any	Bleeding disorder	Pallor	−	+	Nl	−	+	−	−	Early satiety Fatigue	↑	↓	↓	Nucleated red cells Reticulocytosis Poikilocytes Circulating immature white cells, generally myelocytes and promyelocytes	Circulating immature white cells, generally myelocytes and promyelocytes Myelofibrosis	↑	Nl	↑	Bone marrow biopsy	Marrow infiltrative disorders Trauma Septicemia Massive hemolysis Megaloblastic anemia Extramedullary hematopoiesis
Immunology/ Rheumatology	Condition	Etiology	Physiologic	Autonomous increased bone marrow production	Reactive increased bone marrow production	Demargination of peripheral blood neutrophils	Congenital	Acquried	Demography	History	Appearance	Fever	Abdominal pain	BP	Asplenia	Hepatosplenomegaly	Lymphadenopathy	Joint involvement	Other signs	WBC	HB	Plt	PBS	Bone marrow exam	ESR/CRP	BUN/Cr	LFT	Gold standard	Associated findings
	Leukocyte adhesion deficiency	Primary immunodeficiency Failure to express CD18	−	+	−	−	+	−	Rare autosomal recessive, LAD II more in Middle East and Brazil	Positive family history	Characteristic facial appearance, short stature, limb malformations, and severe developmental delay in LAD II	+	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	Signs of different infections	↑	↓	↓/↑	Leukocytosis	Leukocytosis	Nl	Nl	Nl	Flow cytometry	Recurrent bacterial infections Delay in umbilical cord sloughing Inability to form abscesses
	Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes	Unknown Mutation	−	+	−	−	+	−	Autosomal dominant autoinflammatory syndrome	Positive family history	Hive-like rash without itching	+	−	Nl	−	−	−	+	Red eyes Vomiting Headache	↑	↓	↓/↑	Leukocytosis	Leukocytosis	↑	Nl	↑	Genetic tests	Blindness Hearing loss
	Rheumatoid arthritis	Immune mediated	−	+	−	−	−	+	Any, more in young women, between 30-60 years old	Positive family history Cigarette smoking Obesity	Deformed joints Rheumatoid nodules	+	−	Nl	−	−	−	+	Weight loss Fatigue Dry eyes and mouth	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation + positive anti-CCP antibodies	Osteoporosis Infections Carpal tunnel syndrome Multi-organ involvement Lymphoma
	Juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis	Immune mediated	−	+	−	−	−	+	Children under the age of 16	Positive family history	Blotchy rash on a child's arms and legs	+	−	Nl	−	−	+	+	Fatigue Dry eyes and mouth	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation + laboratory findings	Uveitis Infections Multi-organ involvement
	Adult Still's disease	Immune mediated	−	+	−	−	−	+	Rare autoimmune disease	NA	Nonpruritic salmon-colored rash (usually over trunk or extremities while febrile)	+	−	Nl	−	−	+	+	Headache Sore throat Weight loss Muscle pain	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Diagnosis of exclusion	High ferritin Negative ANA Aseptic meningitis Sensorineural hearing loss
	Kawasaki disease	Immune mediated	−	+	−	−	−	+	Autoimmune disease, more in Asian ethnicity boys	NA	Diffuse maculopapular erythematous rash in the genital area, and red eyes, lips, palms or soles of the feet	+	+	Nl	−	−	+	+	Strawberry tongue Sore throat Diarrhea Bilateral conjunctival inflammation	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Diagnostic criteria	Medium-sized-vessel vasculitis Coronary artery aneurysm
	IBD	Immune mediated Mutation	−	+	−	−	−	+	Autoimmune disease, more in young	Stress Positive family history	Pyoderma gangrenosum	+	+	Nl	−	+	+	+	Vomiting Diarrhea Rectal bleeding	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Colonoscopy and biopsy	Primary sclerosing cholangitis Non-thyroidal illness syndrome DVT Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia
	Sarcoidosis	Immune mediated Unknown	−	+	−	−	−	+	Autoimmune disease, more in young African American women	Positive family history	Rashes Erythema nodosum Granuloma annulare Lupus pernio	+	+	Nl	−	+	+ Bilateral hilar adenopathy	+	Fatigue Weight loss Blurry vision Shortness of breath Cough	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Diagnosis of exclusion	Interstitial lung disease Systemic inflammatory disease
	Chronic hepatitis	Infection Autoimmune Ischemic	−	+	−	−	−	+	Elderly	Alcohol use Acute infection	Jaundice Ascites and peripheral edema	+	+	↓	−	+	+	+	Fatigue Weight loss Nausea and vomiting	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	↑	↑	Liver biopsy	Hirsutism Amenorrhea Coagulopathy Hepatic encephalopathy Esophageal varices Hepatorenal syndrome Liver cancer
	Sweet syndrome	Immune mediated Unknown	−	+	−	−	−	+	Rare	Relapse and remission	Tender, red, well-demarcated papules and plaques on the head, neck, legs, and arms	+	+	Nl	−	−	+	+	Conjunctivitis Iridocyclitis Oral aphthae	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	Papillary and mid-dermal mixed infiltrate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with nuclear fragmentation and histiocytic cells	↑	Nl	Nl	Diagnostic criteria	Cutaneous marker of systemic disease Acute myelogenous leukemia Immunologic disease Slight increase in alkaline phosphatase
	Acute gout	Elevated levels of uric acid in the blood Diet Genetic	−	+	−	−	−	+	Older males	Alcohol use Acute infection	Tophi	+	−		−	−	−	+	Fatigue	↑	↓	↑	Leukocytosis	NA	↑	↑	Nl	Clinical manifestation	Arthritis Urate nephropathy
Medication	Condition	Etiology	Physiologic	Autonomous increased bone marrow production	Reactive increased bone marrow production	Demargination of peripheral blood neutrophils	Congenital	Acquried	Demography	History	Appearance	Fever	Abdominal pain	BP	Asplenia	Hepatosplenomegaly	Lymphadenopathy	Joint involvement	Other signs	WBC	HB	Plt	PBS	Bone marrow exam	ESR/CRP	BUN/Cr	LFT	Gold standard	Associated findings
	Steroid	Release of granulocytes from the bone marrow	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Steroid use Autoimmune disease Malignancy	Obese	−	+	Nl to ↓	−	−	−	−	Abdominal pain Muscle weakness Growth failure Pubertal delay	↑	Nl to ↓	↑	Megakaryocyticfragments Large numbers of microspherocytes	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	↑	Nl	Clinical manifestation + history of drug consumption	Thromboemboliccomplications Cushing syndrome Diabetes mellitus
	Filgrastim (Myeloid growth factor)	Release of granulocytes from the bone marrow	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Malignancy Neutropenia	Hair loss Local skin reactions at the site of injection	+	−	Nl to ↓	−	−	−	+	Cough Chest pain Vomiting	↑	Nl to ↓	↑	NA	NA	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation + history of drug consumption	Alveolar hemorrhage Acute respiratory distress syndrome
	Lithium	Unknown	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Bipolar disorder	Weight gain Acne Hand tremor	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	Confusion Constipation or diarrhea Decreased memory Dry mouth Muscle weakness	↑	Nl to ↓	↑	NA	NA	Nl	↑	Nl	Clinical manifestation + history of drug consumption	Extrapyramidal side effects Euthyroid goitre Hypothyroidism Kidney damage
	Catecholamines (epinephrine)	Stimulation of bone marrow myelopoiesis Egress into the circulation	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Anaphylaxis Respiratory diseases	Acutely ill Diaphoretic	−	−	Nl to ↓	−	−	−	−	Dizziness Tremor Anxiety Dyspnea	↑	↑	↑	Megakaryocyticfragments	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation + history of drug consumption	Thromboemboliccomplications
	ATRA	Differentiating promyelocytes	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Acne Acute promyelocytic leukemia	Skin dryness Hair loss	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	Shortness of breath Headache Numbness Depression Itchiness Vomiting Muscle pain	↑	Nl	Nl	NA	NA	↑	Nl	↑	Clinical manifestation + history of drug consumption	Teratogen Thrombosis Benign intracranial hypertension Hypercholesterolemia Liver damage
Other	Condition	Etiology	Physiologic	Autonomous increased bone marrow production	Reactive increased bone marrow production	Demargination of peripheral blood neutrophils	Congenital	Acquried	Demography	History	Appearance	Fever	Abdominal pain	BP	Asplenia	Hepatosplenomegaly	Lymphadenopathy	Joint involvement	Other signs	WBC	HB	Plt	PBS	Bone marrow exam	ESR/CRP	BUN/Cr	LFT	Gold standard	Associated findings
	Infections	Infection	−	+	+	+	−	+	Any	Close contact Immunodeficiency	Acutely ill	+	+	Nl to ↓	−	±	±	±	Fatigue Nausea and vomiting	↑	↓	↑	Howell-Jolly bodies Nucleated RBCs	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation+ culture	Depends on etiology
	Allergy	Unknown Activation of chloride transport	−	+	+	+	−	+	Any	Anaphylaxis Respiratory diseases	Acutely ill Diaphoretic	−	−	Nl to ↓	−	−	−	−	Dizziness Tremor Anxiety Dyspnea	↑	↑	↑	Megakaryocyticfragments	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Post splenectomy	Unknown	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Prior surgical removal of the spleen Sickle cell disease	Normal	±	−	Nl	+	−	−	−	−	↑	↓	↑	Howell-Jolly bodies Nucleated RBCs	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	Incidental laboratory finding Thrombosis
	Cigarette smoking	Reduced plasma volume Accelerated erythropoiesis	−	−	+	+	−	+	Any	Cigarette smoking	Cyanosis	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	Cough Dyspnea	↑	↑	↑	NA	NA	Nl	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Stress/exercise	Reduced plasma volume	+	−	+	−	−	+	Athlete	Exercise	Normal	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	−	↑	↑	↑	Howell-Jolly bodies Nucleated RBCs	Proliferation of megakaryocytes	↑	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Infancy	Physiologic	+	−	−	−	−	+	Infancy	−	Normal	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	−	↑	↑	↑	NA	NA	Nl	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Pregnancy	Physiologic	+	−	−	−	−	+	Pregnancy	−	Normal	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	−	↑	↓	↑	NA	NA	Nl	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Platelet clumping	Spurious	−	−	−	−	−	+	Any	−	Normal	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	−	−	↑	Nl	↑	Cytoplasmic fragments	Nl	Nl	Nl	Nl	Clinical manifestation	−
	Mixed cryoglobulinemia	Spurious	−	−	−	−	−	+	Any	Malignancy Autoimmune disease Infection	Atypical cutaneous ulcers Palpable purpura	−	−	Nl	−	−	−	+	Headache Confusion Blurry or loss of vision Generalized weakness	↑	Nl to ↓	↑	Cytoplasmic fragments	Nl	Nl	Nl	Nl	Skin biopsy	Vasculitis Neuropathy Raynaud phenomenon
Category	Condition	Etiology	Physiologic	Autonomous increased bone marrow production	Reactive increased bone marrow production	Demargination of peripheral blood neutrophils	Congenital	Acquried	Demography	History	Appearance	Fever	Abdominal pain	BP	Asplenia	Hepatosplenomegaly	Lymphadenopathy	Joint involvement	Other signs	WBC	HB	Plt	PBS	Bone marrow exam	ESR/CRP	BUN/Cr	LFT	Gold standard	Associated findings

Epidemiology and Demographics

Age

• Patients of all age groups may develop leukemoid reaction.
• Normal white blood cell count changes with age.
• Leukemoid reaction in neonates is more common, compared to children and adults.

Gender

• Leukemoid reaction affects men and women equally.

Race

• There is no racial predilection for the development of leukemoid reaction.

Risk Factors

• Common risk factors in the development of leukocytosis, include:
  • Physiologic processes (eg, stress, exercise, pregnancy)
  • Drugs (e.g.corticosteroids)
  • Trauma

Screening

No screening is done for leukemoid reaction.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

History

The majority of patients with leukemoid reaction have the following complaints

• Early clinical features, include:
  • Fever
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Fatigue

Complications

• Common complications of leukemoid reaction, include:
  • Tumor lysis syndrome
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
  • Acute respiratory failure
  • Pulmonary hemorrhage
  • CNS infarction
  • Splenic infarction
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Renal failure

Prognosis

• Prognosis generally depends on the underlying etiologies.
• If the white blood cell count reaches more than 50,000 per mm3, life threatening complications can occur.

Diagnosis

Symptoms

• Leukemoid reaction is usually symptomatic.
• Symptoms of leukemoid reaction are often unspecific, such as:
  • Weight loss
  • Fevers of unknown origin
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Chronic pain
  • Fatigue
  • Dyspnea
  • Malaise

• Obtain history of the following:
  • Clinical features
  • Duration (e.g. days, weeks, months)
  • Remainder of complete blood count

Laboratory findings

• Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of leukemoid reaction, include:
  • White blood cell count above the normal range, greater than 25,000 per mm³.
  • Bone marrow aspiration reveals hyperplasia of normal hematopoietic cells in proliferative reactions. The presence of blast and immature forms of leukocyte, platelet and erythrocyte hematopoiesis in the proliferative reactions.
  • The peripheral blood smear shows myelocytes, metamyelocytes, promyelocytes, and small amount of myeloblasts.
  • leukocyte alkaline phosphatase score is more than 100.

Electrocardiogram

No specific ECG changes in leukemoid reaction.

X-Ray

No specific x ray changes in leukemoid reaction.

Echocardiography and Ultrasound

No echocardiography and ultrasound findings.

CT

No CT scan findings in leukemoid reaction.

MRI

No specific MRI findings in leukemoid reaction.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

• The treatment of leukemoid reaction depends on the underlying cause.
• Measures to reduce white blood cell count include:
  • Leukapheresis or exchange blood transfusion.
  • Hydration
  • Urine alkalinization
  • Administration of allopurinol or rasburicase to reduce serum uric acid and minimize tumor lysis syndrome.

Surgery

The treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Primary prevention

Prevention and treatment of infections.

Secondary prevention

Treatment of underlying cause and reduction of white blood cell count.

See also

• Neutrophilia
• Leukocytosis

References

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