Leucocytes Differential Count and Morphology Abnormalities among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: A diverse collection of illnesses known as immunological connective tissue disorders (ICTDs) are brought on by poorly managed autoimmune reactions and impact connective tissue in different organs. Understanding and diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) depend heavily on the leukocyte morphology and differential count. These illnesses, which include scleroderma, RA, and SLE frequently include immunological dysregulation, which results in distinctive leukocyte abnormalities.
Objective: To investigate abnormalities in leucocyte count, differential, and morphology among patients with RA and SLE.
Patients and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study included a population of 95 patients with RA and SLE who were assessed between March 2023 and June 2024 at the Outpatient Clinics of Rheumatology and Immunology, Menoufia University.
Results: There was a significant difference among the studied groups regarding white cell count, basophils, eosinophils, staff, segmented, monocytes, neutrophils, HCT, MCV, MCH, RDW-CV, and HB (P<0.05). Segmented, neutrophils, HCT, MCH, and HB were significantly lower in the high group by (70.2%, 7.6%), (2.8%, 22.2%), (14.1%, 45.8%), (12.3%, 16.9%), (14%, 7.1%) than the other moderate and mild groups; respectively. White cell count, eosinophils, staff, monocytes, and RDW-CV were significantly higher in the high group by (9.82%, 125.2%), (6.31%, 573.3%), (397.3%, 894.7%), (21.9%, 2086%) and (9.51%, 7.75%), than moderate and mild groups; respectively. Basophils were significantly higher in the moderate group by (620%, and 71.4%) than moderate and mild groups; respectively.
Conclusion: The differential count and morphology of leukocytes play a critical role in understanding and diagnosing ICTDs, such as SLE, RA, and scleroderma, often involve immune dysregulation, leading to characteristic leukocyte abnormalities.