[bailie]

Does anyone understand the difference between "immature granulocytes" and "peripheral blasts" in blood? Is there a difference? I do know that immature granulocytes are affected by steroids(prenisone), infection and surgery trauma (removal of infection) which mine were. My doctor was very concerned with the high reading of the peripheral blasts (or was it the "immature granulocites") at the time of surgery and had me have a BMB last Tuesday. The immature granulocytes have dropped from .98 (at time of surgery) to .89 to .28 in two weeks time. This is a trend that hopefully will be going back to normal in a short period of time. But, it did trigger an immediate response/alarm from doctor at time of surgery and she was thinking relapse.

Naturally, doctor went on Spring Break with family just after presenting me with the news. I will be seeing her this Monday for my questions.

I have been trying to find (if there is any) the difference between the "immature granulocites" which show up on the "Manual Differential" test results and "peripheral blasts" that show up on the blood smear. Is there a difference or is it just different nomenclature?

I feel fine.