WBC is high with bleeding gums. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am worried that my wife might have leukemia. My wife had thyroid cancer treated six years back by total thyroidectomy, and she has been taking the Levothyroxine pill since then. Everything was looking fine till we had our first baby last year. During pregnancy, she had gestational diabetes. After the baby's delivery, she developed a pilonidal cyst, which was only diagnosed 15 months later.

Her CBC test is what worries me. She did two CBC tests; the first one six months back and the second one last month. Everything is normal except that the following is high:

Last month test: Lymph (Sysmex): 4.14 10*3 /uL; Plt (Sysmex) : 372.00 10*3/ uL, WBC ( Sysmex) : 14.46 10*3/ uL
Six months back: Lymph (Sysmex): 3.46 10*3/ uL; Plt (Sysmex): 388 10*3/ uL; WBC (Sysmex): 12.22 10*3/ uL.
Other tests last month: The Ferritin is 50 ng/mL, and Total Iron Binding Capacity is: % Saturation 13 % (calc), low. Iron binding capacity: 341 mcg/dl (calc). Iron total 45 mcg/dl. Also, she feels the following: Bleeding gums from toothbrushing, weakness, and bone pain.

Occasionally, swollen groin lymph nodes. I do not know if these symptoms are because of an infection (pilonidal cyst, which is healing now but not treated) or if these are signs of leukemia. I am asking for your help and opinion.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Sorry to hear about your wife's ill health. Following is my opinion on your question. In your latest report, the total WBC count is slightly high, and the lymphocyte count is high. But they are not elevated to a level that raises suspicion for leukemia. So it cannot be said as leukemia by this mildly elevated count. It could be due to infection as well.

Bleeding gums might be due to a periodontitis-like gum inflammation condition. The mentioned symptoms are not specific to leukemia. I suggest you repeat her CBC with Peripheral smear examination once the infection has subsided after a few days. When you repeat your CBC with PS examination, revert back to me with that report. If the count is still high after a few days, then we will investigate further for leukemia.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.