Autoimmune piastrinopenia

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled activation of the immune system. HLH is a reactive mononuclear phagocytic response that occurs in association with a constellation of conditions such as malignancies and infections. The clinical diagnosis of HLH remains challenging because HLH can present with symptoms that significantly overlap with other causes of cytopenia, such as sepsis, autoimmune diseases, hematological cancers, and multiorgan failure...

BACKGROUND: Pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) is characterized by in vitro EDTA-, pH-, temperature- and time-dependent clumping which gives rise to spurious piastrinopenia at platelet count in automatized analyzers. It is caused by serum immunoglobulins recognizing some cryptoantigens on the platelet surface membrane. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PTCP in a series of patients and its clinical significance. METHODS: From all the inpatients, in Internal Medicine Division, during 29 months, we have considered as PTCP the thrombocytopenias persistent in EDTA and contemporaneously, missing with ACD at the automatized counter, after microscopic examination...