A Serial Study of Hematologic Change in Burned Patients

Kim, Hyun Soo; Kwon, Hye Won; Yang, Hyeong Tae; Chun, Wook; Shin, Kyu Sung; Lee, Young Kyung; Park, Ji Young; Cho, Hyoun Chan; Lee, Kyu Man

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hematologic changes in burned patients show unique patterns with time after burn injury. In this study, we analyzed the changes of leukocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count according to elapsed time and burn size.
METHODS
A total of 265 burned patients were included in this retrospective study. The changes in leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and platelet count according to elapsed time were analyzed every 6 hours from immediately after burn injury until day 2, and then every 24 hours from day 3 to day 14. The differences according to burn size were also analyzed. All the results were expressed as mean+/-standard deviation.
RESULTS
Leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and platelet count began to increasing immediately after burn injury, reaching the peak within 12 hours after injury, and then decreased. WBC count was lowest at days 3 to 4 and then began increasing, reaching the second peak at day 7-8. Hemoglobin level continuously decreased and remained at the level of anemia from day 4 to day 14. Platelet count was lowest at days 3-4 and then continuously increased until day 14. The wider the burn sizes were, the greater the changes in leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and platelet count, with 11-40% of the patients showing the most remarkable increase in the number of platelets after day 4.
CONCLUSIONS
The leukocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and platelet count were dramatically changed within the first 72 hours after burn injury and the wider the burn sizes were, the greater these changes were. These results could be used as reference data for interpreting the results of complete blood count in burned patients.