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Do peripheral blood counts have any prognostic value following trauma?
T H Rainer1, T Y Chan, R A Cocks
1Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, People's Republic of China. rainer1091@cuhk.edu.hk
Injury
|September 7, 1999
Summary
Early trauma response shows rapid changes in white blood cell counts, including granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Understanding these temporal shifts is crucial for accurate interpretation of leukocyte counts after injury.
Area of Science:
- Trauma research
- Hematology
- Immunology
Background:
- Lymphocytosis and lymphopenia are observed post-trauma, with conflicting mortality predictions.
- Early leukocyte count dynamics are key to understanding these discrepancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the early serial changes in peripheral leukocyte counts after blunt injury.
Main Methods:
- Serial total leukocyte, granulocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts were measured in 20 patients within 3 hours of blunt injury.
- Blood samples were collected at 20-minute intervals.
Main Results:
- Granulocytosis, lymphocytosis, and monocytosis occurred within 40 minutes of injury.
- Biphasic granulocyte and monocyte responses were observed.
- Lymphocytes showed a linear decrease, with some developing lymphopenia; no injury severity correlation was found.
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte mobilization and redistribution are rapid early post-injury.
- Temporal changes significantly impact the predictive value of circulating leukocytes.
- Precise blood sampling times are essential for accurate studies.