to have a leukocytosis or not to have...that is the question

[necrotic brain]

---

Members do not see this ad.

steroids can cause a leukocytosis ... yes?

how can this be if they are immunosuppressive?!

i would appreciate an answer.. I've been getting replies of minimal satisfaction from people i ask..

thanks 😀

 

[UCLAstudent]

Steroids cause leukocyte demargination --- they decrease the "stickiness" between WBC and the blood vessel wall. This causes more WBC to be floating freely in the blood and can elevate the WBC count.

 

[SoCuteMD]

They prevent extravasation of leukocytes and reduce endothelial adhesion - increasing circulating leukocytes but decreasing chemotaxis.

 

[Critical Mass]

I hate it when my white blood cells get sticky like that. Big mess. 👎

 

[Tired]

steroids can cause a leukocytosis ... yes?

how can this be if they are immunosuppressive?!

i would appreciate an answer.. I've been getting replies of minimal satisfaction from people i ask..

thanks 😀

Leukocytosis does not equal improved immune function.

 

[sanche60]

steroids can cause a leukocytosis ... yes?

how can this be if they are immunosuppressive?!

i would appreciate an answer.. I've been getting replies of minimal satisfaction from people i ask..

thanks 😀

i think steroids that cause leukocytosis may cause an increase in nuetrophils being released, but they might be immature. Maybe similar to how anemia causes an increase in reticulocytes in the blood. so you have more but with decreased ability to function. I was also taught that some steroids induce leukocyte apoptosis and degeneration of the lymph nodes(like cortisol), so maybe the langerhans cells(or other antigen presenting cells) have trouble presenting to t-cells?

 

[Samoa]

It's only an apparent leukocytosis. There aren't any more leukocytes in the bloodstream, but more of them are finding their way into the vacutainer because of the demargination.

Decreased immune function is a corollary of the demargination, as well. Leukocytes must marginate before they can enter the tissues and perform their immune functions.

It's like a bunch of teenagers hanging out at the beach in the middle of a weekday. The reason you see them there is because they're not in class doing their work.

I could make it sound more complicated, by including all the receptors and details of their function within tissues. Or by trying to explain how it is that steroids cause demargination. But there's no paradox here between the increased white cell measurement on a CBC and decreased immune function.

 

[blz]

does anyone else want to answer the question again? lol...


goljan is all over this