Platelet Satellitism in a Patient with Underlying Infection, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Multiple Sclerosis.

Journal: Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
Published:
Abstract

Platelet satellitism (PS) is an in vitro phenomenon of platelets adhering around white blood cells, especially in blood samples anticoagulated with K3EDTA. This, in some cases, can lead to spurious thrombocytopenia, without platelet dysfunction or bleeding events. Diagnosis is made by peripheral blood smear examination. The potential mechanism for PS remains largely unknown; however, it possibly involves the formation of IgG antibodies against the platelet glycoprotein receptor IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa). PS has been observed in various medical conditions, including infectious, autoimmune, and lymphoproliferative disorders, without an obvious causative relationship. Here, we describe a case of PS in a patient who presented with infection in the setting of underlying Immune Thombocytopenic Purpura and Multiple Sclerosis.

Authors
Athanasios Liaskas, Natali El Gkotmi, Anestis Karapaschalidis, Dimitrios Tzanetakos, Serena Valsami