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Automated cytochemical differential leucocyte count in patients hospitalized with acute bacterial infections
Absolute blood levels of various leucocyte types were measured by an automated cytochemical differential count (Hemalog D/90) in 84 adult patients hospitalised with an acute bacterial infection. The neutrophil granulocyte levels varied widely in all patient categories ranging from a normal value to a high count. Neutrophilic granulocytosis defined by a count exceeding 6.0 X 10(9)/l was detected in 47 patients (56%). An increased level of neutrophils with a high myeloperoxidase activity (Hpx cells) representing leucocytes recruited from the bone marrow was found in 51 patients (61%). Monocytosis was found in 25 (30%) and lymphocytopenia in 23 patients (27%). A high number of large unstained cells indicating an increase in atypical lymphocytes was detected in only 3 persons. Entirely normal cytochemical parameters were recorded in 13 patients (15%). The relationship between various leucocyte types was investigated in 26 patients with erysipelas. A negative association (r = -0.59) was observed between the neutrophil and the monocyte count. There was no correlation between the neutrophil and the lymphocyte count, nor between the levels of monocytes and lymphocytes. A positive correlation (r = 0.76) was established between the neutrophil count and the level of Hpx cells indicating that recruitment of immature cells from the bone marrow reserve pool is a feature of patients with erysipelas. The high precision and reproducibility of the cytochemical differential count indicate that the variability noted in the disease categories studied is a biological one, being the result of the complex interaction of invading microorganisms with the host defence system.
Absolute blood levels of various leucocyte types were measured by an automated cytochemical differential count (Hemalog D/90) in 84 adult patients hospitalised with an acute bacterial infection. The neutrophil granulocyte levels varied widely in all patient categories ranging from a normal value to a high count. Neutrophilic granulocytosis defined by a count exceeding 6.0 X 10(9)/l was detected in 47 patients (56%). An increased level of neutrophils with a high myeloperoxidase activity (Hpx cells) representing leucocytes recruited from the bone marrow was found in 51 patients (61%). Monocytosis was found in 25 (30%) and lymphocytopenia in 23 patients (27%). A high number of large unstained cells indicating an increase in atypical lymphocytes was detected in only 3 persons. Entirely normal cytochemical parameters were recorded in 13 patients (15%). The relationship between various leucocyte types was investigated in 26 patients with erysipelas. A negative association (r = -0.59) was observed between the neutrophil and the monocyte count. There was no correlation between the neutrophil and the lymphocyte count, nor between the levels of monocytes and lymphocytes. A positive correlation (r = 0.76) was established between the neutrophil count and the level of Hpx cells indicating that recruitment of immature cells from the bone marrow reserve pool is a feature of patients with erysipelas. The high precision and reproducibility of the cytochemical differential count indicate that the variability noted in the disease categories studied is a biological one, being the result of the complex interaction of invading microorganisms with the host defence system.