UNUSUAL LEUKEMOID REACTION IN A COVID-19 PATIENT: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

A leukemoid reaction is a hematological disorder in which the White Blood Cells (WBCs) count may rise more than 50,000 per micro liter (μL) accompanied by an increase in Neutrophil precursors. The incidence of this reaction is uncertain. This looks like blood cancer but it is caused by reasons outside bone marrow like severe infections, drug reactions, intoxication, ischemia, inflammation and stress. The WBCs count falls back to normal once this cause is eradicated so we present an unusual case of leukemoid reaction with very high WBCs in a COVID19 patient to create awareness among physicians dealing with such cases.