Pseudothrombocytopenia Due to Anticoagulant-Independent Agglutinins.
- Author:
Dong Il WON
1
;
Oh Kun KWON
;
Kap Jun YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
- Publication Type:In Vitro ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Pseudothrombocytopenia;
Platelet agglutinin;
Anticoagulant-independent
- MeSH:
Agglutinins*;
Blood Platelets;
Citric Acid;
Edetic Acid;
Heparin;
Immunoglobulin G;
Immunoglobulin M;
Immunoglobulins;
Malaria;
Platelet Count
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Pathology
1999;19(6):602-605
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pseudothrombocytopenia is an in vitro phenomenon usually associated with anticoagulant (ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA)-dependent IgG platelet agglutinins. Two cases of pseudothrombocytopenia due to EDTA-independent agglutinins are reported. The fingerstick blood smear showed platelet clumping as well as EDTA, citrate and heparin samples. In a case with malaria, serum IgM was 985 mg/dL and serum protein immunofixation demonstrated an additional IgM band which disappeared together with platelet clumping a month later. The increased immunoglobulin (especially, IgM) appeared to be associated with platelet agglutinin. Another case had cold reactive agglutinin because the electronic platelet counts were dependent on temperature. These cases illustrate that pseudothrombocytopenia may be caused by more than one type of agglutinin and can be confirmed by using a direct fingerstick, keeping the sample warm, or drawing the blood into another anticoagulant.
