Inspect the following full blood count:
Parameter |
Patient Value |
Normal Adult Range |
Haemoqlobin |
96 q/L* |
130 - 175 |
White Cell Count |
17.4 x 10 /L* |
4.0 - 11.0 |
Platelets |
168 x 109/L |
150 - 450 |
Neutrophils |
12.4 x 10 /L* |
1.8 - 7.5 |
Lymphocytes |
2.06 x 10 /L |
1.50 - 4.00 |
Monocytes |
0.5 x 10 /L |
0.2 - 0.8 |
Eosinophils |
0.3 x 10/L |
0.0 - 0.4 |
Film: Circulating nucleated red blood cells, immature granulocytes and band forms observed.
a) What is the term used to describe these findings on a blood film? (20% marks)
b) Give four possible reasons these findings may be observed in a critically ill patient.
(20% marks)
The key findings are anaemia, nucleated red cells, immature granulocytes and band forms.
These abnormalities can be described as a "leukoerythroblastic" blood film picture
In summary, the possible causes of leukoerythroblastosis are:
Shamdas, Glenn J., et al. "Leukoerythroblastic anemia in metastatic prostate cancer. Clinical and prognostic significance in patients with hormone‐refractory disease." Cancer 71.11 (1993): 3594-3600.
Weick, J. K., A. B. Hagedorn, and J. W. Linman. "Leukoerythroblastosis. Diagnostic and prognostic significance." Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol. 49. No. 2. 1974.