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Increased circulating blood cell counts in combat-related PTSD : Associations with inflammation and PTSD severity

Lindqvist, Daniel LU ; Mellon, Synthia H ; Dhabhar, Firdaus S ; Yehuda, Rachel ; Grenon, S Marlene ; Flory, Janine D ; Bierer, Linda M ; Abu-Amara, Duna ; Coy, Michelle and Makotkine, Iouri , et al. (2017) In Psychiatry Research 258. p.330-336
Abstract

Inflammation is reported in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Few studies have investigated circulating blood cells that may contribute to inflammation. We assessed circulating platelets, white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) in PTSD and assessed their relationship to inflammation and symptom severity. One-hundred and sixty-three male combat-exposed veterans (82 PTSD, 81 non-PTSD) had blood assessed for platelets, WBC, and RBC. Data were correlated with symptom severity and inflammation. All cell counts were significantly elevated in PTSD. There were small mediation effects of BMI and smoking on these relationships. After adjusting for these, the differences in WBC and RBC remained significant, while platelet count was... (More)

Inflammation is reported in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Few studies have investigated circulating blood cells that may contribute to inflammation. We assessed circulating platelets, white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) in PTSD and assessed their relationship to inflammation and symptom severity. One-hundred and sixty-three male combat-exposed veterans (82 PTSD, 81 non-PTSD) had blood assessed for platelets, WBC, and RBC. Data were correlated with symptom severity and inflammation. All cell counts were significantly elevated in PTSD. There were small mediation effects of BMI and smoking on these relationships. After adjusting for these, the differences in WBC and RBC remained significant, while platelet count was at trend level. In all subjects, all of the cell counts correlated significantly with inflammation. Platelet count correlated with inflammation only in the PTSD subjects. Platelet count, but none of the other cell counts, was directly correlated with PTSD severity ratings in the PTSD group. Combat PTSD is associated with elevations in RBC, WBC, and platelets. Dysregulation of all three major lineages of hematopoietic cells in PTSD, as well as their significant correlation with inflammation, suggest clinical significance of these changes.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Combat, Inflammation, Platelets, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Red blood cells, Smoking, White blood cells
in
Psychiatry Research
volume
258
pages
330 - 336
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85029715376
  • pmid:28942957
  • wos:000416184500052
ISSN
0165-1781
DOI
10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.052
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f3d73a43-d56a-420d-b154-fdde26a2da2d
date added to LUP
2017-10-11 09:14:22
date last changed
2025-02-04 00:55:35
@article{f3d73a43-d56a-420d-b154-fdde26a2da2d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Inflammation is reported in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Few studies have investigated circulating blood cells that may contribute to inflammation. We assessed circulating platelets, white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) in PTSD and assessed their relationship to inflammation and symptom severity. One-hundred and sixty-three male combat-exposed veterans (82 PTSD, 81 non-PTSD) had blood assessed for platelets, WBC, and RBC. Data were correlated with symptom severity and inflammation. All cell counts were significantly elevated in PTSD. There were small mediation effects of BMI and smoking on these relationships. After adjusting for these, the differences in WBC and RBC remained significant, while platelet count was at trend level. In all subjects, all of the cell counts correlated significantly with inflammation. Platelet count correlated with inflammation only in the PTSD subjects. Platelet count, but none of the other cell counts, was directly correlated with PTSD severity ratings in the PTSD group. Combat PTSD is associated with elevations in RBC, WBC, and platelets. Dysregulation of all three major lineages of hematopoietic cells in PTSD, as well as their significant correlation with inflammation, suggest clinical significance of these changes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindqvist, Daniel and Mellon, Synthia H and Dhabhar, Firdaus S and Yehuda, Rachel and Grenon, S Marlene and Flory, Janine D and Bierer, Linda M and Abu-Amara, Duna and Coy, Michelle and Makotkine, Iouri and Reus, Victor I and Aschbacher, Kirstin and Bersani, Francesco Saverio and Marmar, Charles R and Wolkowitz, Owen M}},
  issn         = {{0165-1781}},
  keywords     = {{Combat; Inflammation; Platelets; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Red blood cells; Smoking; White blood cells}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{330--336}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Psychiatry Research}},
  title        = {{Increased circulating blood cell counts in combat-related PTSD : Associations with inflammation and PTSD severity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.052}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.052}},
  volume       = {{258}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}