Neuro-endocrine and endocrine influences on the circulating blood elements.

Abstract

THE complete blood count in patients with endocrine disorders frequently shows definite alterations from the normal pattern of circulating blood elements. Thus, in Cushing's syndrome due to either a lesion primary in the hypothalamus or to a tumor of the adrenal cortex, polycythemia, neutrophilia, lymphopenia and eosinopenia are frequent findings (De La Baize, et al., 1946). On the other hand, in Addison's disease anemia, lymphocytosis and neutropenia are rather characteristically found (De La Baize, Reifenstein and Albright, 1946, loc. cit.; Baez-Villasenor, Rath and Finch, 1948). Reference to these two endocrine disorders is made because Cushing's syndrome is associated with adrenal cortical overaction while Addison's disease is an expression of adrenal cortical hypofunction. In diseases of the thyroid gland, hypofunction may be associated with anemia (Minot, 1921; Bistrom, 1946). The white blood count may be elevated slightly but the differential count usually is not changed.