Is leukocytosis a predictor of mortality in severe pertussis infection

摘要: Bordetella pertussis causing severe respiratory failure in infants that is unresponsive to treatment well described. Pulmonary hypertension a prominent feature of such cases. In this series 13 critically ill with B. pertussis, hyperleukocytosis ( > 100 x 10(9)/l) was an independent predictor death. We suggest extreme leukocytosis may contribute disease severity via the formation aggregates pulmonary vasculature.