title: Incidence and diagnosis of EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia in a consecutive outpatient population referred for isolated thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Among 111 patients referred to our outpatient clinic for isolated thrombocytopenia during a 24-month period, 17 (15.3%) cases of EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA-PTCP) were identified. EDTA-PTCP represented the second most frequent cause of thrombocytopenia in this population. The diagnosis was confirmed by the following findings: (a) normal platelet numbers immediately after blood withdrawal; (b) progressive fall of platelet counts and evident platelet clumping over time, only in EDTA-anticoagulated blood. A simple, inexpensive and quick diagnostic method was devised, that consists in evaluating the platelet number in a blood sample anticoagulated with EDTA immediately after blood withdrawal and 4 h later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Udine University School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Virgolini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savignano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaja
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velisig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004492:Edetic Acid