European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background -Spurious thrombocytopenia or pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) is a well
known in vitro phenomenon that occurs when the anticoagulant used while testing the blood
samples causes clumping of platelets which results in spuriously low platelet count with
automated haematology analyser. It occurs most often in EDTA anticoagulated blood,
however other anticoagulants though to a lesser extent have also been implicated in several
reports. Clinical consequences include unnecessary platelet transfusions, bone marrow
aspiration and inappropriate treatment like administration of steroids.
Material and methods –This is a hospital based prospective study in department of clinical
pathology for one year duration from January 2021 to December 2021.
Results – A total of 82 were found to have EDTA induced pseudothrombocytopenia in the
study period. The total case load during the study period was 2581 cases. The incidence of
PTCP in our study being, 3.1%. Males accounted for 45% and females accounted for 55 %
with male to female ratio of 2.5: 3.
Mean platelet count in EDTA anticoagulated samples with PTCP was 39,333/mm3 mean
platelet count in sodium citrate sample was 1,78,666/mm3, and mean platelet count manually
was 2,10,552/mm3. Citrate anticoagulated samples showed higher values as compared to
EDTA.
Conclusion -EDTA-PTCP is a common pre analytical error encountered in routine clinical
laboratory practise. EDTA-PTCP should be suspected in all cases with a low platelet count
but without any clinical bleeding manifestations. Platelet counts should be reviewed in all
such cases to prevent unnecessary clinical interventions and treatment. Simple, inexpensive
and diagnostic method of peripheral smear examination remains gold standard.

Diabetes is associated with the changes in thrombotic and fibrinolytic coagulation factor level/activity that increases the risk of thrombus formation. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher risk of developing blood clots in the arteries that may lead to a series of complications associated, specifically, with the cardiovascular system. Blood clots in the arteries of the heart accounts for 80% mortality rate of diabetic patients. In this study, the researchers evaluated the anticoagulant effect of Pithecellobium dulce in diabetes and its roles in the hypercoagulation. Leaf extracts of P. dulce were orally administered to alloxan-induced diabetic male sprague-dawley rats for seven consecutive days. The induction of diabetes was described through glucose testing which was measured prior to the start of drug administration. The rats were divided into six groups consisting of six rats each. Normal saline solution and warfarin 3 mg/kg BW were administered as the negative and the positive controls, respectively. Doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg BW were administered once daily for seven days. Samples of blood were drawn after seven days of treatment and were centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 15 minutes. Anticoagulant activity was measured using prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPPT), thrombin time (TT). In conclusion, P. dulce did not exhibit anticoagulant effect as demonstrated by statistical significance by shortened period for clot formation compared to the positive control.