| Abstrakt: |
The records of 100 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis seen at the Mayo Clinic during the years 1955 to 1957 were studied, and the severity of the disease, the extent of involvement of the colon, and the presence of complications (liver disease, bleeding, sepsis, and hypersensitivity) were determined. Clinical findings were compared with hematologic changes, especially those observed on blood smears. The most frequent hematologic findings were rouleau of grade II or higher, toxic granulation in the neutrophils, hypochromasia of the erythrocytes, monocytosis, myeloid immaturity, an increase in the number of platelets, and eosinophilia. Macrocytosis was commonly present in patients who had chronic liver disease associated with the chronic ulcerative colitis. Positive L.E. cell preparations were obtained for three patients. The most important guides to the severity of chronic ulcerative colitis were the degree of toxic granulation in the neutrophils, the presence of myeloid immaturity, an increase in the number of platelets, and high grades of rouleau. Hypochromasia correlated well with blood loss but not with the clinical severity of the disease. Examination of the peripheral smear should, therefore, be of value in assessing the severity and complications of ulcerative colitis and in suggesting the presence of liver disease and excessive loss of blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
