For lung diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, WBC count is very important for the diagnosis of the disease, as leukocytosis is usually present.The mechanism that causes leukocytosis can be of several forms: an increased release of leukocytes from bone marrow storage pools, decreased margination of leukocytes onto vessel walls, decreased extravasation of leukocytes from the vessels into tissues, or an increase in number of precursor cells in the marrow.Certain medications, including corticosteroids, lithium and beta agonists, may cause leukocytosis.Leukocytosis is an expected finding in healthy women during the post-partum period and is not a cause for alarm unless accompanied by clinical manifestations of infection. Diagnosis
Leukocyte counts
Below are blood reference ranges for various types of leukocytes/WBCs. The 97.5 percentile (right limits in intervals in image, showing 95% prediction intervals) is a common limit for defining leukocytosis. Treatment
While treatment is usually not necessary in the majority of cases, hyperleukocytosis (WBC count > 50 or 100 × 109/L), which can be seen in some leukemic patients, is treated to prevent leukostasis. See also
Bacterial infection
Complete blood count
Leukocytosis in head trauma
White blood cell

References


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Anidulafungin (INN): 42  (trade names Eraxis, Ecalta) is a semisynthetic echinocandin used as an antifungal drug. It was previously known as LY303366. It may also have application in treating invasive Aspergillus infection when used in combination with voriconazole. It is a member of the class of antifungal drugs known as the echinocandins; its mechanism of action is by inhibition of (1→3)-β-D-glucan synthase, an enzyme important to the synthesis of the fungal cell wall.It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. Indications
Candidemia and other forms of invasive Candida infections (intra-abdominal abscess and peritonitis)
Esophageal candidiasisAnidulafungin has not been studied in endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and meningitis due to Candida, and has not been studied in sufficient numbers of neutropenic patients to determine efficacy in this group. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Anidulafungin significantly differs from other antifungals in that it undergoes chemical degradation to inactive forms at body pH and temperature. Because it does not rely on enzymatic degradation or hepatic or renal excretion, the drug is safe to use in patients with any degree of hepatic or renal impairment.Volume of distribution: 30–50 L.
Anidulafungin is not evidently metabolized by the liver. This specific drug undergoes slow chemical hydrolysis to an open-ring peptide which lacks antifungal activity. The half-life of the drug is 27 hours. About 30% is excreted in the feces (10% as unchanged drug). Less than 1% is excreted in the urine. Mechanism of action
Anidulafungin inhibits glucan synthase, an enzyme important in the formation of (1→3)-β-D-glucan, a major fungal cell wall component.