Abstract
Summary
1. In 10 of 15 patients having febrile Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions there was a definite leucocytosis occurring before or at the same time as the temperature spike. Some degree of leucocytosis occurred in the other 5 cases but was not considered significant.
2. The average percentage increase in leucocytes was 89%.
3. As shown by differential counts the increase in cells was predominantly in the polymorphonuclear series.
4. There was also a lymphopenia with an average percentage drop in total lymphocyte counts of 55%.
5. The causative factor in the leucocytosis and the causative factor of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction are felt to be the same.
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