Elevated White Blood Cell Levels and Thrombotic Events in Patients With Polycythemia Vera: A Real-World Analysis of Veterans Health Administration Data

BackgroundPatients with polycythemia vera (PV) have a substantial risk of thrombotic events (TEs). The objective of the present analysis was to describe the association between white blood cell (WBC) levels and occurrence of TEs among patients with PV from a large real-world population.Patients and MethodsThe present retrospective analysis using Veterans Health Administration claims data (October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2012) evaluated adult patients assigned to 4 WBC count categories (WBC count < 7.0, 7.0-8.4, 8.5 to < 11.0, and ≥ 11.0 × 10⁹/L) to compare the risk of TEs (reference, WBC count, < 7.0 × 10⁹/L group). Analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model, considering WBC status as a time-dependent covariate.ResultsOf the 1565 patients with PV included in the present analysis, the WBC count was < 7.0 × 10⁹/L for 428 (27.3%), 7.0 to 8.4 × 10⁹/L for 375 (24.0%), 8.5 to < 11.0 × 10⁹/L for 284 (18.1%), and ≥ 11.0 × 10⁹/L for 478 (30.5%). Of the 1565 patients, 390 (24.9%) had experienced a TE during the study period. The mean follow-up ranged from 3.6 to 4.5 years. Compared with the reference group (WBC count < 7.0 ×10⁹/L), the hazard ratio for TEs was 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-1.48; P = .5395), 1.47 (95% CI, 1.10-1.96; P = .0097), and 1.87 (95% CI, 1.44-2.43; P < .0001) for patients with a WBC count of 7.0 to 8.4, 8.5 to < 11.0, and ≥ 11.0 ×10⁹/L, respectively.ConclusionA positive, significant association between an increased WBC count of ≥ 8.5 ×10⁹/L and the occurrence of TEs was observed in patients with PV. The potential thrombogenic role of WBCs in patients with PV supports the continued inclusion of WBC count control in disease management and evaluation of the response to therapy.     

急性心肌梗死伴白细胞增多患者的临床特点及意义

目的 探讨急性心肌梗死（AMI）早期外周血细胞数与预后的关系。方法 100例AMI分为白细胞正常组及增高组，比较两组病例的特点。结果 AMI白细胞增高组易并发左心衰、心律失常及应激性高血糖，具有较高的心电图QRS积分及CK峰值，住院病死率高。结论 白细胞计数对于AMI具有重要的预后意义。     

Total Leukocyte Counts and the Requirement of Dose Reduction due to Cytopenias as Prognostic Indicators Affecting Response to Imatinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and is considered the first line of non stem cell transplantation treatment for patients diagnosed with CML. We evaluated the response rates and adverse reactions to Imatinib in our patients and tried to identify factors which affected the response to Imatinib. Eighty-four patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical and haematological variables with confirmation by FISH, detecting Philadelphia chromosome or bcr-abl translocation and were then started on oral capsule Imatinib. A complete haematological response was seen in 78.04% patients, while complete cytogenetic response (CCR) was seen in 12.2% of patients and major cytogenetic response (MCR) was seen in 64.63% of patients. It was found that that a greater total leukocyte count (TLC) on presentation had a negative correlation with cytogenetic response. Cytopenias were seen in 36 patients (43.82%). 34.9% of patients having CCR/MCR required dose reduction while 73.6% of patients not achieving CCR/MCR required dose reduction. This was a significant difference, confirmed on statistical analysis (P < 0.05; P = 0.019), establishing the negative prognostic value of dose reduction due to cytopenias.     

浅析白细胞增多的临床意义

目的探讨白细胞增多的临床意义。方法分析血常规检验工作,总结白细胞分类计数的重要性及白细胞增多的临床意义。结果白细胞分类计数具有较高的临床价值,值得临床医师参考使用,白细胞增多主要见于感染与类白血病反应。结论白细胞检验结果在一定程度上决定着临床诊疗的正确诊断和治疗。     

The significance of preoperative leukocytosis in endometrial carcinoma

Objective

To evaluate the impact of preoperative leukocytosis among patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Methods

The medical records of all patients that underwent surgical treatment for endometrial carcinoma between January 2005 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into two groups based on the presence or absence of preoperative leukocytosis (WBC ≥ 10,000 cells per μl). The groups were then compared with respect to pathologic findings, progression-free survival and overall survival.

Results

1144 patients were identified, 156 (13.6%) with preoperative leukocytosis and 988 (86.4%) without leukocytosis. The leukocytosis group had a greater percentage of patients with stage 3 (15.4% vs. 9.8%, crude p = 0.02) and 4 (7.1% vs. 3.0%, crude p = 0.007) disease. Leukocytosis was associated with a greater mean tumor size (4.4 vs. 3.4 cm, p = 0.0002) and a greater percentage of patients with cervical stromal involvement (14.8% vs. 8.7%, crude p = 0.02), adnexal involvement (14.1% vs. 7.5%, crude p = 0.007) and lymphvascular space invasion (24% vs. 16.3%, crude p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis, mean tumor size (OR, 95% CI; 1.10, 1.02-1.18) remained significantly associated with preoperative leukocytosis. There was no difference between groups, with respect to time to recurrence. However, leukocytosis was independently associated with an increased risk of death (HR, 95% CI; 1.69, 1.07-2.68).

Conclusions

Preoperative leukocytosis, among endometrial cancer patients, was independently associated with increasing tumor size and independently imposed an increased risk of death.     

The prognostic significance of preoperative leukocytosis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Objective

Preoperative leukocytosis is known to be a negative prognostic factor for several gynecologic malignancies, but its relationship with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is unknown. We sought to evaluate the prognostic implications of preoperative leukocytosis for women with EOC.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent primary debulking surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy for EOC between January 1993 and October 2011. Associations between leukocytosis and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined by univariate analyses. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors for RFS and OS.

Results

Of 155 women, 23 (14.8%) had leukocytosis and 132 (85.2%) did not have leukocytosis. RFS and OS were significantly shorter for women with leukocytosis than for women without leukocytosis (P = 0.009 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The mortality rate was also higher among women with leukocytosis (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative leukocytosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55–4.41; P = 0.009), advanced stage (HR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.44–6.75; P = 0.004), and optimal cytoreduction (HR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.14-0.70; P = 0.031) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Additionally, preoperative leukocytosis was independently associated with decreased OS (HR: 7.66; 95% CI: 2.78–21.16; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Among women with EOC, preoperative leukocytosis might be an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS. A larger-scaled, prospective study is needed to verify these results.     

Effects of exercise on leukocytosis and blood hemostasis in 800 healthy young females and males

AIM: To investigate the effects of exercise on healthy individuals of both genders.METHODS: This study lasted 6 years and involved about 800 healthy people. Individuals were divided into females and males and further sub-divided into two groups; in the first group individuals run (or skied in the winter time) and then rested for 3 h, whereas individuals in the second group intensely cycled for 5 min. The status of health was determined by measuring the sedimentation rate and the intensity of exercises by measuring the heart rate. Blood samples were collected before and after exercise.RESULTS: We observed that in the first group a significant increase of the total white blood cells, segmented neutrophils, band neutrophils, eosinophils and to a lesser extent lymphocytes but not monocytes in the blood circulation. However, all cell types were increased in the circulation after 5 min intense exercise. No differences in the pattern of cell increase were observed among the genders. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and D-dimer were also measured in the blood of individuals who cycled intensely for 5 min to determine the coagulation and fibrinolytic activities in the blood. APTT is reduced and D-dimer values significantly increased after intense exercise. However, APTT was statistically lower in males than females, whereas no differences in the D-dimer values were observed among the genders.CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that exercise whether leisure or strenuous affects leukocytosis and hemostasis in both genders. A major advantage of this study is the high numbers of individuals involved and the inclusion of both females and males values.     

Prognostic value of perioperative leukocyte count in resectable gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the prognostic significance of perioperative leukopenia in patients with resected gastric cancer.METHODS: A total of 614 eligible gastric cancer patients who underwent curative D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The relationship between pre- and postoperative hematologic parameters and overall survival was assessed statistically, adjusted for known prognostic factors.RESULTS: The mean white blood cell count(WBC) significantly decreased after surgery, and 107/614(17.4%) patients developed p-leukopenia, which was defined as a preoperative WBC ≥ 4.0 × 109/L and postoperative WBC 4.0 × 109/L, with an absolute decrease ≥ 0.5 × 109/L. The neutrophil count decreased significantly more than the lymphocyte count. P-leukopenia significantly correlated with poor tumor differentiation and preoperative WBC. A higher preoperative WBC and p-leukopenia were independent negative prognostic factors for survival [hazard ratio(HR) = 1.602, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.185-2.165; P = 0.002, and HR = 1.478, 95%CI: 1.149-1.902; P = 0.002, respectively] after adjusting for histology, Borrmann type, p TNM stage, vascular or neural invasion, gastrectomy method, resection margins, chemotherapy regimens, and preoperative WBC count. The patients with both higher preoperative WBC and p- leukopenia had a worse prognosis compared to those with lower baseline WBC and no p-leukopenia(27.5 mo vs 57.3 mo, P 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative leukocytosis alone or in combination with postoperative leukopenia could be independent prognostic factors for survival in patients with resectable gastric cancer.     

Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Associated with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor: Report of a Case

A 75-year-old woman was hospitalized due to a right axillary mass. She had undergone a resection of thyroid carcinoma 13 years earlier, followed by two subsequent operations for recurrent thyroid disease. A physical examination revealed a right axillary mass associated with skin ulceration. Persistent bleeding was observed at the skin ulcer associated with the right axillary lymph node, despite conservative treatment for the lesion. Surgery was thus performed to control persistent bleeding from the axillary ulcer, and a histopathological examination resulted in a diagnosis of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, but marked leukocytosis and extensive skin metastases were recognized 30 days postoperatively. A systemic examination revealed no other lesions associated with marked leukocytosis, but elevated levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were noted in a blood examination. As a result, her general condition deteriorated rapidly and the patient died 2 weeks after the onset of leukocytosis.