Morphological Abnormalities of Leucocytes and Leucocytic Indices in Patient of Clinical Septicemia

Abstract

Background: Recognition of sepsis at an early stages is associated with favourable outcome. White blood cell parameters play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis. The neutrophil cell population data is one of the meaningful exercise in the patients who are clinically suspected of sepsis.

Objectives: The objectives were to evaluate i) morphological alterations in neutrophils in state of septicaemia ii) to evaluate the changes in WBC count and absolute neutrophilic counts in septicemia and iii) to analyse neutrophil left shift parameters and immature cell indices in septicaemia.

 Materials and method: Thirty patients who were clinically suspected of septicaemia by criteria of SOFA underwent neutrophilic parameters by automated cell counters for total leucocyte count, differential leucocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, immature to mature cell ratio and the evaluation of morphological alteration in neutrophils on peripheral blood smears.

 Results: total leucocyte count and absolute neutrophil count was found raised in patients of septicaemia with 100 % sensitivity, SP, PPV and NPV. However NPV for band cells(40.63%), toxic granules(68.75%), Dohle bodies(9.37%), immature to mature cell ratio (78.12% and 21.87%) was found to be low.

Conclusion : the neutrophil population data is substantiates the diagnosis of septicaemia and therefore must be regarded high not for its diagnostic value but for its prognostic value.