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Does High WBC Is Matter Of Concern And Is Swollen Legs Is Due To Estrace Used In Vagina?

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Posted on Fri, 3 Jan 2014
Question: My lab work shows WBC Esterase 3+ and WBC >30. I have no pain when urinating. However, I have swelling in both legs from the knee to the ankle and now also in the thighs. By evening, when I sit, my upper legs are almost twice the size, with the skin very flabby. I have been using Estrace cream twice a week in the vagina. Can this be part of the cause of my problems? XXXXXXX F. YYYY@YYYY
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Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Estrace has side effects, but infection chance +/- Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. Well a WBC of above 30 confirms either recent trauma, stress or an infection; and a WBC Esterase of 3+ indicates the presence of an infection in the urine. But as you have not reported any signs or symptoms of an infection, we will have to look deeper into this. Swelling in the legs is a common side effect of the Estrace cream, although to assume this to be the cause we will have to rule out the involvement of the genitorurinary or renal system. For this I would recommend an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound to look into the renal system, and also a blood investigation to check on the functioning of the renal system (also called the renal function test). Estrace can cause the listed problems, but we should understand that it should not cause a rise in the number of white blood cells (which are usually a response of the bone marrow to infection, trauma or severe stress). So an infection cannot be ruled out until the renal and genitourinary systems are elaborately evaluated. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you. Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Does High WBC Is Matter Of Concern And Is Swollen Legs Is Due To Estrace Used In Vagina?

Brief Answer: Estrace has side effects, but infection chance +/- Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. Well a WBC of above 30 confirms either recent trauma, stress or an infection; and a WBC Esterase of 3+ indicates the presence of an infection in the urine. But as you have not reported any signs or symptoms of an infection, we will have to look deeper into this. Swelling in the legs is a common side effect of the Estrace cream, although to assume this to be the cause we will have to rule out the involvement of the genitorurinary or renal system. For this I would recommend an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound to look into the renal system, and also a blood investigation to check on the functioning of the renal system (also called the renal function test). Estrace can cause the listed problems, but we should understand that it should not cause a rise in the number of white blood cells (which are usually a response of the bone marrow to infection, trauma or severe stress). So an infection cannot be ruled out until the renal and genitourinary systems are elaborately evaluated. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you. Best wishes.