Explanation for apparent hypoxemia associated with extreme leukocytosis:
leukocytic oxygen consumption
RK Chillar, MJ Belman and M Farbstein
We investigated the hypoxemia associated with extreme leukocytosis in
leukemic patients. In vitro experiments showed that the rate of decrease in
the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood samples from such patients was
proportional to the white cell count. In the presence of normal white cell
count no drop in PO2 was observed. We conclude that a low arterial oxygen
tension in the presence of extreme leukocytosis reflects oxygen consumption
by leukocytes rather than true hypoxemia. Both normal as well as leukemic
leukocytes appear to exhibit this phenomenon.
Volume 55,
Issue 6,
pp. 922-924,
06/01/1980
Copyright © 1980 by The American Society of Hematology