Which trigger is listed as a cause of leukemoid reaction?

Which trigger is listed as a cause of leukemoid reaction?

• A. Allergen exposure
• B. Vitamin deficiency
• C. Sleep deprivation
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (A)

A leukemoid reaction is a pronounced, reactive increase in white blood cells, especially neutrophils, driven by a strong inflammatory or infectious stimulus. Allergen exposure can provoke a systemic inflammatory response in some people, releasing cytokines and growth factors that stimulate the bone marrow to produce and release more neutrophils. This can generate a leukemoid-sized leukocytosis that mimics leukemia. The other options don’t typically trigger such a robust neutrophilic response—vitamin deficiencies, sleep deprivation, and dehydration may affect counts in minor ways but do not usually cause the marked neutrophilia seen in a leukemoid reaction.

A leukemoid reaction is a pronounced, reactive increase in white blood cells, especially neutrophils, driven by a strong inflammatory or infectious stimulus. Allergen exposure can provoke a systemic inflammatory response in some people, releasing cytokines and growth factors that stimulate the bone marrow to produce and release more neutrophils. This can generate a leukemoid-sized leukocytosis that mimics leukemia. The other options don’t typically trigger such a robust neutrophilic response—vitamin deficiencies, sleep deprivation, and dehydration may affect counts in minor ways but do not usually cause the marked neutrophilia seen in a leukemoid reaction.