The importance of schistocytes in a patient in VA-ECMO - 27/08/24
Highlights |
• | The presence of schistocytes can be responsible for spurious thrombocytosis and spuriously low red blood count (RBC) in the analysis performed by the analyzer. |
• | Histograms of the analyzers play an important role in the identification of schistocytes and must be carefully analyzed before reporting the previously full blood count parameters. |
• | In these cases, the analysis of histograms and the observation of the peripheral blood film, before validating the complete blood count data, are mandatory to avoid wrong clinical decisions. |
Summary |
The presence of schistocytes can be responsible for spurious thrombocytosis and spuriously low red blood count (RBC). The hemoglobin concentration will be correct (as the method usually used, destroys the red cells and converts a substantial proportion of the hemoglobin to a stable pigment) but mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) is falsely high. The platelets and RBC histograms of the full blood count analyzers play an important role in the identification of schistocytes and must be carefully analyzed before reporting the previously full blood count parameters. In patients in ECMO, where can be expected the presence of a small number of schistocytes, this evaluation is particularly important to avoid wrong clinical decisions.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : VA-ECMO, Schistocytes
Plan
Vol 108 - N° 362
Article 100777- septembre 2024 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?