Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia associated with neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA-PTCP) is an in vitro phenomenon of EDTA-induced platelet aggregation at room temperature. This phenomenon consists of platelet clumping due to anti-platelet antibodies in blood anticoagulated with EDTA. It has been reported in patients with various diseases, including sepsis, multiple myeloma, acute myocardial infarction and breast cancer. Since unrecognized EDTA-PTCP may lead to inappropriate treatment, it should always be considered as a possible cause in patients with low platelet counts. This study identified a case of transient EDTA-PTCP in a patient with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach. In the present study, a 50-year-old male presented with epigastric pain and a weight loss of 15 kg. The patient presented with EDTA-PTCP and was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach. Following systemic chemotherapy, the tumor showed a marked regression and the EDTA-PTCP disappeared. The mechanism by which this occurred is not clear but an association of EDTA-PTCP with neuroendocrine carcinoma is strongly suggested.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 150-950, Republic of Korea.
Hee Jun
HJ
Kim
In Ho
IH
Moh
Hana
H
Yoo
Seungyeon
S
Son
DA Hye
DH
Jung
Hun Gu
HG
Lee
Dong Hee
DH
Han
Jae Hyun
JH
Park
Hyeong Su
HS
Kim
Jung Han
JH
Kim