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What Does Elevated White Blood Cell Count Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014
Question: Question. My recent white blood cell count is elevated. See additional information provided. I need to know options it could be other than chronic leukemia. Also how long can you live3 with chronic leukemia. Please give me your best answer if you think it is leukemia.
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Answered by Dr. CS Narayan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: Requires bone marrow tests and other tests also. Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for your query. I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions. Your white blood cell counts mentioned here, assuming they are in numbers per microliter - are high normal and 13,000 does fit the diagnostic criterion of peripheral blood test. But, this has to be corroborated with a bone marrow examination histopathologically amongst other genetic tests to validate the exact diagnosis and the type of chronic leukemia if confirmed. Again, the neutrophil count (a type of white blood cell) within the total white blood cell count would be important rather than just increase in all types of white blood cells in diagnosing a chronic leukemia. Another possibility, even if remote - is a side effect of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) that you are on. Long term use of this drug might also add to the possibility. Most importantly, a diagnosis of chronic leukemia (though the name sounds that way) is made after many criteria of clinical and laboratory findings and not on the sole basis of white blood cell count. So, I would suggest you to complete your overall clinical tests and wait for your doctor's advice who has seen you in entirety. Survival rates vary with the type of chronic leukemia and is measured as percentage of 5 year survivals. It is very immature here to even comment on this aspect as your diagnosis is still in question. So, I would advice you to complete your checks thoroughly, and then discuss options accordingly at the right time. Elaboration here may not do good. Let me know if I have missed out any other concern in your question. Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions. Sincerely, Dr Sujeet N Charugulla, MBBS, MD. Consultant Physician.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. CS Narayan (25 minutes later)
just a quick question. You say that the 13000 is high normal. Does this mean there is a possibility that the tests will indicate that I am OK
doctor
Answered by Dr. CS Narayan (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer: 10K and 11k are high normal. Detailed Answer: Thanks for the query. I meant in the above sentence, that your readings of 10000 and 11000 counts as high normal. 13000 does fit into the category of possibility as I explained, but too less a count for grave diagnosis of chronic leukemia in itself. So, do not make assumptions on this 13000 count alone, for now. Let me know if there are further queries. Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. CS Narayan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 546 Questions

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What Does Elevated White Blood Cell Count Indicate?

Brief Answer: Requires bone marrow tests and other tests also. Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for your query. I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions. Your white blood cell counts mentioned here, assuming they are in numbers per microliter - are high normal and 13,000 does fit the diagnostic criterion of peripheral blood test. But, this has to be corroborated with a bone marrow examination histopathologically amongst other genetic tests to validate the exact diagnosis and the type of chronic leukemia if confirmed. Again, the neutrophil count (a type of white blood cell) within the total white blood cell count would be important rather than just increase in all types of white blood cells in diagnosing a chronic leukemia. Another possibility, even if remote - is a side effect of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) that you are on. Long term use of this drug might also add to the possibility. Most importantly, a diagnosis of chronic leukemia (though the name sounds that way) is made after many criteria of clinical and laboratory findings and not on the sole basis of white blood cell count. So, I would suggest you to complete your overall clinical tests and wait for your doctor's advice who has seen you in entirety. Survival rates vary with the type of chronic leukemia and is measured as percentage of 5 year survivals. It is very immature here to even comment on this aspect as your diagnosis is still in question. So, I would advice you to complete your checks thoroughly, and then discuss options accordingly at the right time. Elaboration here may not do good. Let me know if I have missed out any other concern in your question. Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions. Sincerely, Dr Sujeet N Charugulla, MBBS, MD. Consultant Physician.