Abstract
In order to discriminate between stress-induced leukocytosis and an infection/inflammation-related one, we have used a modified leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test (LAAT) to examine the adhesive properties of white blood cells towards glass surfaces. A highly significant p < 0.00001) difference was noted between the percent of aggregated cells found in a group of patients with various conditions of infection/inflammation (22.9 ± 6.4%) and those with stress (7.5 ± 1.4%). The corresponding difference between the total white blood cell count in the peripheral blood of these two groups (16,547 ± 3289 and 14,114 ± 4898 cells per mm3, respectively) was not significant. The difference in total leukocytes adhered to the glass in the two groups (445 ± 136 vs 228 ± 72 cells per high power field) that were determined along the slide was also highly significant (p < 0.00001). Thus, a simple glass slide technique might be of clinical utility for an effective, rapid and inexpensive means of discrimination between stress and infection/inflammation related leukocytosis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 183-188 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Stress Medicine |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1999 |
Keywords
- Inflammation
- Leukocyte adhesiveness
- Stress