Leukemoid Reaction Associated with Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract

A hematological picture simulating that seen in cases of leukemia often occurs in a variety of conditions. We recently treated a patient who had a leukemoid reaction in the peripheral blood while he was on parenteral nutrition. Throughout the period of treatment with parenteral nutrition, an abnormal shift towards immaturity in the neutrophilic granulocytes was seen, and the degree of this shift appeared to depend on the caloric intake. Moreover, the hematological picture resembling that seen in cases of leukemia disappeared shortly after discontinuation of the parenteral nutrition, and immature cells were no longer apparent. We assumed that the excess glucose-related calories included in parenteral nutrition produced the leukemoid reaction in this patient who was being surgically treated for carcinoma of the colon with hepatic metastasis.