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Abciximab-Associated Pseudothrombocytopenia

2000; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 101; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1161/01.cir.101.8.938

1524-4539

Michael B. Holmes, Samer Kabbani, Matthew W. Watkins, Robert W. Battle, David J. Schneider,

Blood disorders and treatments

HomeCirculationVol. 101, No. 8Abciximab-Associated Pseudothrombocytopenia Free AccessOtherPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyRedditDiggEmail Jump toFree AccessOtherPDF/EPUBAbciximab-Associated Pseudothrombocytopenia Michael B. Holmes, Samer Kabbani, Matthew W. Watkins, Robert W. Battle and David J. Schneider Michael B. HolmesMichael B. Holmes From The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. , Samer KabbaniSamer Kabbani From The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. , Matthew W. WatkinsMatthew W. Watkins From The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. , Robert W. BattleRobert W. Battle From The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. and David J. SchneiderDavid J. Schneider From The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. Originally published29 Feb 2000https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.101.8.938Circulation. 2000;101:938–939A60-year-old woman was transferred for coronary angiography after a non–Q-wave myocardial infarction. She was treated with aspirin, metoprolol, unfractionated heparin, and abciximab administered as a weight-based bolus followed by infusion. A complete blood count in blood anticoagulated with EDTA (purple-top Vacutainer) was obtained shortly after her arrival in the catheterization laboratory, 4 hours after the abciximab bolus. The reported platelet count had decreased from 440 000/mL to 21 000/mL. Examination of the peripheral blood smear revealed prominent clumping of the platelets (Figure, bottom). Repeat analysis performed in the catheterization laboratory in blood anticoagulated with citrate (blue-top Vacutainer) demonstrated a true platelet count of 320 000/mL associated with a normal appearance of the peripheral smear (Figure, top). She subsequently underwent angiography without delay or complications.Pseudothrombocytopenia is an artifactual clumping of platelets in vitro without clinical significance. Most frequently, EDTA alters the conformation of the platelet surface glycoprotein IIb such that a neoepitope is exposed that is recognized by autologous antibodies. The incidence of pseudothrombocytopenia in the general population is ≈0.1%. The incidence of pseudothrombocytopenia was 1.1% in patients receiving abciximab as a bolus plus infusion in the EPIC trial, whereas the incidence of true acute thrombocytopenia was 2.7%. Thus, pseudothrombocytopenia is an important etiology of thrombocytopenia to consider in patients receiving abciximab.Evaluation of the automated platelet count and peripheral smear in blood anticoagulated in citrate can distinguish pseudothrombocytopenia from heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and true thrombocytopenia related to abciximab. The distinction is critical because with pseudothrombocytopenia, thrombotic or hemorrhagic risk is not increased, antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy can be continued, and invasive procedures can be performed.The editor of Images in Cardiovascular Medicine is Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, MD, Chief, Department of Pathology, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, and Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine.Circulation encourages readers to submit cardiovascular images to Dr Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, 6720 Bertner Ave, MC1-267, Houston, TX 77030.(Circulation. 2000;101:938-939.)Download figureDownload PowerPointFootnotesCorrespondence to Michael B. Holmes, MD, Cardiovascular Division, The University of Vermont College of Medicine, McClure 1, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT 05401. E-'mail [email protected] Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails February 29, 2000Vol 101, Issue 8Article InformationMetrics Copyright © 2000 by American Heart Associationhttps://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.101.8.938 Originally publishedFebruary 29, 2000 PDF download Advertisement