An unusual leukemoid reaction in COVID – 19 patients , simulating as Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Series

Abstract

The hematological alterations are one of the key features that aided the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in patients of COVID – 19 infection. The reports that appeared in literature were mostly describing the hematological alterations of leukocytosis,lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and deranged cellular ratios in patients of COVID – 19 infection. The present  case report describes two unusual patients of COVID – 19 infection with myeloid leukaemoid reactions which were unique for their cell counts and cell types. These myeloid – leukaemoid reactions were having the total leukocyte counts and differential leukocyte counts close to the one seen in patients of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).However, these chronic myeloid leukaemia like leukamoid reaction receded as the patients were put to appropriate therapy with improvement in their clinical conditions.