[Markedly increased red cell fragmentations counted as platelets in a patient with thrombotic microangiopathy].
A patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) experienced severe thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after allo-bone marrow transplantation (BMT). She had high risk for TMA; due to total body irradiation (TBI), intensive chemotherapy, treatment with Ciclosporin and association with veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Markedly increased fragmentations of red blood cells were observed in this case, and were incorrectly counted as platelets by a fully automated blood cells counter. Careful evaluation of the platelet count is necessary in patients with red cell fragmentations.
Wada
Hideo
H
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu 514-8507.
Sakakura
Miho
M
Fujieda
Atsusi
A
Sakaguchi
Akane
A
Abe
Yasunori
Y
D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000592:standards*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood*