Leukocytosis in pancreatitis is typically due to

• A. Inflammation rather than infection
• B. Infection only
• C. Dehydration
• D. Bone marrow stimulation

Answer: (A)

Leukocytosis in pancreatitis mainly reflects the inflammatory response to pancreatic injury. When the pancreas is damaged, inflammatory mediators are released and trigger a systemic inflammatory reaction, causing neutrophils to be produced and released from the bone marrow and to shift into the bloodstream. This neutrophilia occurs even in the absence of infection and often correlates with the severity of pancreatitis. Infection would introduce additional signs (fever, focal infection, positive cultures) beyond the typical inflammatory response, whereas dehydration tends to hemoconcentrate blood components rather than drive a robust white cell increase. Bone marrow stimulation is part of the mechanism, but the driving factor is inflammation from the pancreatitis itself.