From the Research
Neutrophil counts increase after anaphylaxis primarily due to the body's acute stress response and inflammatory cascade triggered by the severe allergic reaction. During anaphylaxis, the immune system releases large amounts of inflammatory mediators like histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines. This activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to increased cortisol production, which causes demargination of neutrophils from the blood vessel walls into circulation. Additionally, bone marrow receives signals to release stored neutrophils through a process called emergency granulopoiesis. The neutrophilia (elevated neutrophil count) typically peaks within 4-6 hours after the anaphylactic event and may persist for 24-48 hours as part of the body's attempt to restore homeostasis and address potential tissue damage. This neutrophil elevation is a normal physiological response to severe stress and is not specific to anaphylaxis alone, as it occurs in other acute stress situations like trauma, surgery, or infection. The neutrophil count generally returns to baseline levels once the acute phase of the reaction resolves and the inflammatory response subsides, as noted in general medical knowledge and supported by the principles outlined in studies such as 1.
Some key points to consider in the management and understanding of anaphylaxis include:
- The importance of prompt recognition and treatment, as emphasized in 2 and 3.
- The role of epinephrine as the first-line therapy, highlighted in 1 and 3.
- The potential for biphasic reactions, discussed in 4, which may influence the monitoring and management approach post-anaphylaxis.
- The involvement of histamine and the use of antihistamines, explored in 5, which can provide adjunctive treatment but do not replace epinephrine in acute management.
Given the information and the focus on the increase in neutrophil count post-anaphylaxis, the most critical aspect is understanding the physiological response to severe stress and the inflammatory cascade triggered by anaphylaxis, which is not directly addressed by the specific details of the provided studies but is a fundamental principle in managing and understanding the condition.