Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Leukemoid reactions complicating colitis due to Clostridium difficile.

Mark A Marinella1, Steven D Burdette, Roger Bedimo

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA. mmarinella@pol.net

Southern Medical Journal
|November 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Patients with Clostridium difficile colitis and a leukemoid reaction (high white blood cell count) face a significantly higher mortality risk. This complication indicates a poor prognosis compared to C. difficile colitis without this reaction.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Protocols for Randomized Controlled Trials: Advancing Transparency in Infectious Diseases.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same author

Protocols for Randomized Controlled Trials: Advancing Transparency in Infectious Diseases.

Open forum infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Protocols for Randomized Controlled Trials: Advancing Transparency in Infectious Diseases.

The Journal of infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Metabolic syndrome and its risk factors among adults living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in Zambia: an ambidirectional cohort study.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Baricitinib vs. Tocilizumab.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same author

2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Antiviral Treatment for Mild to Moderate COVID-19 in Adults.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hematology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Clostridium difficile colitis can be complicated by leukemoid reactions, defined as a total leukocyte count > 35 x 10(9)/L.
  • The clinical characteristics and prognostic implications of this complication require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize patients with Clostridium difficile colitis and associated leukemoid reactions.
  • To compare morbidity and mortality in patients with and without leukemoid reactions during C. difficile colitis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis of patients with C. difficile toxin-positive assays.
  • Comparison of 20 cases with leukemoid reactions (peak leukocyte count > 35 x 10(9)/L) against 65 controls (peak leukocyte count < 35 x 10(9)/L).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Leukemoid reaction group had higher mean peak leukocyte counts (52 vs 14.9 x 10(9)/L).
  • Patients with leukemoid reactions presented with lower temperature, lower serum albumin, and higher hematocrit.
  • Independent predictors for leukemoid reactions included respiratory tract infection and lower temperature.
  • Mortality was significantly higher in the leukemoid reaction group (50% vs 7.7%). All patients with counts > 50 x 10(9)/L died.

Conclusions:

  • Clostridium difficile colitis with a leukemoid reaction is associated with a poor prognosis.
  • A leukocyte count > 35 x 10(9)/L in C. difficile colitis predicts a substantially higher mortality rate.