Which condition is often associated with a high white blood cell count?

A high white blood cell count is typically associated with leukemia due to the abnormal proliferation of white blood cells in this condition. In leukemia, there is an uncontrolled production of immature or dysfunctional white blood cells, which can lead to extremely high WBC counts. This increase is a key feature of leukemia, distinguishing it from other types of anemia or chronic disease processes.

Anemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency anemia, and macrocytic anemia do not primarily cause an elevated white blood cell count. Instead, these conditions are characterized by low red blood cell counts or issues related to hemoglobin levels and do not involve the excessive growth of white blood cells. Therefore, leukemia is the condition most closely linked to a high white blood cell count.