Challenging the Interpretation of White Blood Cell Counts in Patients with Sepsis Following Packed Cell Transfusion

Critically ill patients with sepsis often require packed cell transfusions (PCT). However, PCT may affect white blood cell (WBC) counts. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to trace changes in WBC count following PCT in critically ill patients with sepsis. We included 962 patients who received one unit of PCT while hospitalized in a general intensive care unit, and 994 matched patients who did not receive PCT. We calculated the mean values of WBC count for the 24 h before and 24 h after PCT. Multivariable analyses using a mixed linear regression model were performed. The mean WBC count decreased in both groups, but more in the non-PCT group (from 13.9 × 10⁹/L to 12.2 × 10⁹/L versus 13.9 × 10⁹/L to 12.8 × 10⁹/L). A linear regression model showed a mean decrease of 0.45 × 10⁹/L in WBC count over the 24 h following the start of PCT. Every 1.0 × 10⁹/L increase in the WBC count prior to PCT administration showed a corresponding decrease of 0.19 × 10⁹/L in the final WBC count. In conclusion, among critically ill patients with sepsis, PCT causes only mild and clinically non-prominent changes in WBC count.