Evaluation of EDTA Dependent Pseudothrombocytopenia and the effect of alternative anticoagulant- A Tertiary care centre experience

Dr. Swetalina Pandey; Dr. Sunanda Nayak; Dr. Sobhagini Nayak; Dr. Kailash Ch. Agrawal

Volume : IX, Issue : V, May - 2020

Evaluation of EDTA Dependent Pseudothrombocytopenia and the effect of alternative anticoagulant- A Tertiary care centre experience

Dr. Swetalina Pandey, Dr. Sunanda Nayak, Dr. Sobhagini Nayak, Dr. Kailash Ch. Agrawal

Abstract :

Background: – Pseudothrombocytopenia is a phenomenon of spurious low platelet count. EDTA– dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA–PTCP) is due to presence of agglutinating anti–platelet antibodies that react with platelets in blood anticoagulated with EDTA. Materials & Methods: – This is a prospective study over a period of 3 years in VIMSAR Burla. The inclusion criteria for selecting pseudothrombocytopenia patients was unexpectedly low platelet count with clumping of platelets in peripheral blood smear. The samples were collected in EDTA, also in sodium citrate & heparin for evaluation and then compared. Results: – A total of 51 patients aged between 16 to 80 years were found to have pseudothrombocytopenia. The mean platelet count in EDTA anticoagulated blood of patients with pseudothrombocytopenia was lower than that in citrate and heparin. Four hours of collection showed further decrease in platelet count in EDTA samples in contrast to the sample anticoagulated with citrate or heparin. Conclusion: – Patients with low platelet count not correlating with clinical presentation must undergo peripheral blood smear examination to prevent spurious thrombocytopenia.