Published Mar 22, 2014
dudette10, MSN, RN
3,530 Posts
Got a sickle cell patient the morning after a transfusion of 1 unit PRBCs. CBC showed WBCs of 18, up from a normal count. Reported to MD after reviewing labs along with the improved HGB and a continued K+ elevation of 5.5. We treated the elevated K+, and I asked the doc why the WBCs were elevated. She didn't know. Heme/onc was on consult, but didn't get a chance to ask him. No notes addressing the white count. Tried to google, but didn't find anything. Any ideas?
KelRN215, BSN, RN
1 Article; 7,349 Posts
I found this on Google: Transfusion-related leukocytosis in critically... [Crit Care Med. 2004] - PubMed - NCBI
Awesome! Thank you! My search terms included "sickle cell" which may have filtered out this. Apparently, it may be an idiopathic, transient increase.
SierraBravo
547 Posts
The elevated WBC count is non-specific. What did the differential show?