Leukemoid like reaction in a post CABG patient

• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5049.135046
• Publication Date: 2014-06-23T07:10:45Z
• Authors: G Padmakumar; J Ravikrishnan; P Jayakumar; K Prasad
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; leukaemoid reaction; Anesthesiology; Extra-corporeal circulation; leukotrienes; myelogenous leukaemia; RD78.3-87.3; Case Report; 3. Good health

The presentation of leukemoid reaction in patients post-cardiac surgery is rare with limited prior reports in the English language literature. We report a case of raised leukocyte count with no evidence of infection in a patient post coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The exaggerated inflammatory response by the patient to extra-corporeal circulation was drastically elevated, but fell short of the leukaemoid reaction definition - so we have defined it as a leukaemoid like reaction. A clear correlation between the extra-corporeal circulation and inflammatory response is documented.