Abstract
Verifying platelet counts can prevent unwarranted diagnostic tests and transfusions. In case of thrombocytopenia, if the clinical picture and history do not suggest bleeding tendency, one should always perform peripheral blood smear by directly obtaining blood by finger puncture before doing any further tests. If the peripheral blood smear exhibits platelet clumps, pseudothrombocytopenia should always be remembered. In this case, we present a neonate with a diagnosis of transplacental transmission of EDTA-dependant pseudothrombocytopenia.
Highlights
Pseudothrombocytopenia or spurious thrombocytopenia is an in vitro laboratory finding usually associated with the use of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in blood collection tubes [1]
We present a neonate with a diagnosis of transplacental transmission of EDTAdependant pseudothrombocytopenia
Several large platelet clumps were detected. We considered that this low platelet count might be due to EDTA-induced aggregation of the platelets
Summary
Pseudothrombocytopenia or spurious thrombocytopenia is an in vitro laboratory finding usually associated with the use of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in blood collection tubes [1]. It is due to platelet clumping when blood is anticoagulated with EDTA. EDTA while binding calcium ions releases glycoprotein IIb (GpIIb) epytope by interacting with the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GpIIb-IIIa) molecule on the platelet membrane [2,3]. If the patient has autoantibodies (usually IgG type immunoglobulins) against these epytopes, they cause clumping of these platelets by binding to the epytopes on their surfaces. These thrombocyte clumps are considered as leukocyte by the automated blood counters due to their volumes and so the platelet counts are estimated as low. We describe a case of transient congenital pseudothrombocytopenia in a baby born to a mother with pseudothrombocytopenia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
