Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use

Objective. Determining the etiology of unexplained leukocytosis in asymptomatic patients may incur unnecessary testing, cost, and prolonged emergency department stay. The objective was to delineate if use of amphetamines and/or cocaine is a factor. Methods. For two years we reviewed all psychiatric...

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Main Authors: John R. Richards, Valeria F. Farias, Chris S. Clingan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/207651
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author John R. Richards
Valeria F. Farias
Chris S. Clingan
author_facet John R. Richards
Valeria F. Farias
Chris S. Clingan
author_sort John R. Richards
collection DOAJ
description Objective. Determining the etiology of unexplained leukocytosis in asymptomatic patients may incur unnecessary testing, cost, and prolonged emergency department stay. The objective was to delineate if use of amphetamines and/or cocaine is a factor. Methods. For two years we reviewed all psychiatric patients presenting for medical clearance with exclusions for infection, epilepsy, trauma, or other nonpsychiatric medical conditions. Results. With a total of 1,206 patients, 877 (72.7%) amphetamines/cocaine-negative drug screen controls had mean WBC 8.4±2.6×103/µL. The 240 (19.9%) amphetamines-positive, cocaine-negative, patients had WBC 9.4±3.3×103/µL (P<0.0001). The 72 (6.0%) amphetamines-negative, cocaine-positive, patients had WBC 7.1±1.8×103/µL (P<0.0001). The remaining 17 (1.4%) amphetamines/cocaine-positive patients had WBC 10.0±4.2×103/µL (P=0.01). Amphetamines-positive patients had a supranormal WBC ratio significantly higher than controls (23.8% versus 14.8%, P=0.001), whereas only one cocaine-positive patient had a supranormal WBC count, with significantly lower ratio (1.4%, P=0.0003). Conclusion. Use of amphetamines, not cocaine, may be associated with idiopathic leukocytosis. This may be explained by unique pharmacologic, neuroendocrine, and immunomodulatory differences.
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spelling doaj-art-77ca81f02104426cba803c5e723552ac2025-02-03T01:28:51ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/207651207651Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine UseJohn R. Richards0Valeria F. Farias1Chris S. Clingan2Department of Emergency Medicine, PSSB 2100, U.C. Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USADepartment of Emergency Medicine, PSSB 2100, U.C. Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USADepartment of Emergency Medicine, PSSB 2100, U.C. Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAObjective. Determining the etiology of unexplained leukocytosis in asymptomatic patients may incur unnecessary testing, cost, and prolonged emergency department stay. The objective was to delineate if use of amphetamines and/or cocaine is a factor. Methods. For two years we reviewed all psychiatric patients presenting for medical clearance with exclusions for infection, epilepsy, trauma, or other nonpsychiatric medical conditions. Results. With a total of 1,206 patients, 877 (72.7%) amphetamines/cocaine-negative drug screen controls had mean WBC 8.4±2.6×103/µL. The 240 (19.9%) amphetamines-positive, cocaine-negative, patients had WBC 9.4±3.3×103/µL (P<0.0001). The 72 (6.0%) amphetamines-negative, cocaine-positive, patients had WBC 7.1±1.8×103/µL (P<0.0001). The remaining 17 (1.4%) amphetamines/cocaine-positive patients had WBC 10.0±4.2×103/µL (P=0.01). Amphetamines-positive patients had a supranormal WBC ratio significantly higher than controls (23.8% versus 14.8%, P=0.001), whereas only one cocaine-positive patient had a supranormal WBC count, with significantly lower ratio (1.4%, P=0.0003). Conclusion. Use of amphetamines, not cocaine, may be associated with idiopathic leukocytosis. This may be explained by unique pharmacologic, neuroendocrine, and immunomodulatory differences.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/207651
spellingShingle John R. Richards
Valeria F. Farias
Chris S. Clingan
Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
The Scientific World Journal
title Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
title_full Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
title_fullStr Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
title_full_unstemmed Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
title_short Association of Leukocytosis with Amphetamine and Cocaine Use
title_sort association of leukocytosis with amphetamine and cocaine use
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/207651
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AT valeriaffarias associationofleukocytosiswithamphetamineandcocaineuse
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