Hirudin-induced pseudothrombocytopenia in a patient with EDTA-dependent platelet aggregation: report of a new laboratory artefact.

摘要

Sir, anticoagulant-induced pseudothrombocytopenia (PTP) is an important cause of spuriously low platelet counts described for all haematology analysers used in clinical routine diagnostics. If misinterpreted, it may lead to serious diagnostical and therapeutical consequences like bone marrow biopsy, initiation of corticosteroid therapy, platelet transfusion or even splenectomy (Zandecki et al, 2007). PTP has been reported for different anticoagulants such as ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), citrate, heparin and oxalate, occurring with an incidence of 0.1-0.2% for EDTA, which is the most commonly used agent for automated blood counts (Schrezenmeier et al, 1995).