[Hematologic anomalies in Lyell's syndrome. Study of 26 cases]

Case records of 26 patients with Lyell Syndrome were reviewed for studying haematologic abnormalities. Eosinophilia, neutropenia, thrombopenia were uncommon. Circulating immature granulocytic cells were frequently encountered during the second week of evolution, mostly when leucocytosis was present. Anemia was frequent, the lowest haemoglobin titer beeing reached by the 15th day. Reticulocytosis was initially low and reached a peak during the second week. At that time biological markers of inflammatory syndrome were getting worse. So the originating anemia seems primarily of medullary origin and independent of inflammatory syndrome. Lymphopenia was constant and sometimes marked, with no circulating lymphocytes in two cases. The lowest numbers of lymphocytes were observed during the first week. These haematological abnormalities may have some pathogenic significance.