Leukemoid reaction:
Chapter: 20a
Marked neutrophilia (increase in WBC's in peripheral blood), usually observed in association with an acute bacterial infection, but also can be due to exercise, emotional stress, use of some drugs such as epinephrine and glucocorticoids and in association with physical stimuli such as burns, cold, pain, surgery, anesthesia and labor. The WBC count may be as high as 50,000, with a left shift of the granulocytic series present. A left shift refers to the presence of immature WBCs in the peripheral blood, and usually is composed predominantly of bands, with lesser numbers of metamyelocytes, myelocytes and occasional promyelocytes.
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