Intra-leukocytic hemosiderin inclusions detected as pseudoeosinophils by automated depolarization analysis in a patient with beta-thalassaemia major and immune hemolysis.
This report describes a patient with intra-leukocytic hemosiderin inclusions associated with iron overload and acute infection. These inclusions resulted in a false identification of eosinophils rather than neutrophils using an automated analyzer. The analyzer interpreted the aberrant increased depolarization as a reflection of eosinophils. No eosinophils were found by examination of the blood smear. The implications for the hematology morphologist is that visual inspection of a blood smear is nearly always indicated whenever any departure from strict normality is noted in the output from an automated blood cell counter.
Roberts
George T
GT
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. groberts@kfshrc.edu.sa
Perry
J Leonard
JL
Al-Jefri
Abdullah
A
Scott
Colin Stephen
CS
D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D006485:Hemosiderin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010976:Platelet Count; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
D006485:Hemosiderin