Increased circulating blood cell counts in combat-related ptsda associations with Inflammation and symptom severity

Background: Cytokine levels are increased in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but their relationship to circulating blood cell counts is unknown. Methods: 163 male combat-exposed veterans (83 with PTSD and 81 non-PTSD controls) had blood assessed for platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and red blood cell (RBC) count. These data were correlated with symptom severity and with pro-inflammatory markers. Results: Platelet count (p=0.028), WBC (p=0.004) and RBC (p=0.003) were significantly elevated in PTSD. Pro-inflammatory blood markers were significantly correlated with WBC count in both groups (PTSD, r=0.26, p=0.022; controls, r=0.46; p