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Pseudothrombocytopenia in cardiac surgical practice

The Heart Hospital, University College NHS Trust, 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London W1G 8PH, UK

*Corresponding author. Specialist Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Harefield Hospital NHS Trust, Hill End Road, Harefield UB9 6JH, UK. Tel.: +44 (0) 1895 828665; fax: +44 (0) 1895 828666.

E-mail address: suku50{at}hotmail.com (S.K. Nair).

Pseudothrombocytopenia is observed occasionally in post-cardiac surgical patients. It is commonly due to EDTA-mediated immunological mechanisms, which lead to agglutination of functionally intact platelets. This condition is harmless and does not warrant platelet transfusion. We describe an instance of pseudothrombocytopenia in our practice and discuss its clinical relevance.

Key Words: Platelet; Anti-coagulation