Spurious automated white cell count wiht Coulter STKS in the myelodysplastic syndromes suggests the presence of a red cell membrane defect

Bacteria or yeast may be observed on peripheral blood smears and may lead to spuriously elevated platelet counts. They have been reported to disturb the white blood cell (WBC) differential count if they clumped together, and a large number of such microorganisms have been shown to increase WBC counts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spurious rise in WBC counts according to species of microorganisms and automated hematology analyzers. The species we selected were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis. We investigated the effects of bacteria and yeast on peripheral blood samples by the ADVIA 120/2120 Hematology System, Sysmex XE-2100 (TOA Medical Electronics, Kobe, Japan) and Coulter LH 750 (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL, USA). C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. dubliniensis had an overt effect on the WBC count at concentrations of up to 1-5 x 10(7) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL in three automated cell counters, and C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis, when present at concentrations of 1-5 x 10(8) CFU/mL, caused a significant increase in the WBC count obtained by the Sysmex XE-2100 but not by the ADVIA 120/2120 system and Coulter LH 750 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, yeast may influence the results of peripheral blood smears only when the yeast concentration is unusually high. The results differed among analyzers and among species of yeast. Hematologists should be aware that samples containing bacteria and yeast may give erroneously high WBC counts and differential leukocyte counts and should review the peripheral blood smear by microscopy.

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Traumatic Intracerebral Venous Thrombosis Associated With an Abnormal Golf Swing

Saneto

Samples

Kinkel

2000

Headache

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Objectives.-To describe the occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis in a 40-year-old man whose cerebral event was induced by a poor golf swing, to review the literature on possible mechanisms producing venous thrombosis, and to compare this case with the literature.Background.-Headache is the most frequent symptom in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. However, patients presenting with a headache due to cerebral venous thrombosis are uncommon. The known risk factors for thrombosis include both acquired and genetic factors. When the interaction of these two groups occurs, the magnitude of this interaction is thought to produce a dynamic state that can favor thrombosis. Our case report illustrates that moderate levels of anticardiolipin antibodies together with the mild trauma of a golf swing can induce a cerebral venous thrombosis. This case also suggests that although headache is rarely due to cerebral venous thrombosis, it should be excluded by good medical acumen and testing.Results.-Minor trauma induced by a poor golf swing was chronologically related to the development of a progressive cerebral venous thrombosis. The patient had none of the risk factors associated with a predisposition to venous thrombosis: hypercoagulable state, concurrent infection, pregnancy/puerperium, collagen vascular disorder, malignancy, migraine, false-positive VDRL, previous deep vein thrombosis, renal disease, factor V Leiden, or a hematological disorder. There was no anatomical abnormality that would predispose the patient to a cerebral venous thrombosis. The only laboratory abnormality was a moderate anticardiolipin antibody level (25 GPL). The patient was placed on warfarin sodium therapy and is currently without clinical sequela from the venous thrombotic event.Conclusions.-Under certain circumstances, minor trauma can induce cerebral venous thrombosis. A review of the literature indicates that cerebral venous thrombosis in the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and in the absence of systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare event. Previously, only major traumatic events have been reported to be associated with cerebral venous thromboses. The chronological development of cerebral venous thrombosis after a faulty golf swing strongly indicates that given a background of moderate levels of anticardiolipin antibodies, even minor trauma can induce a venous thrombotic event.

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Spurious automated white cell count wiht Coulter STKS in the myelodysplastic syndromes suggests the presence of a red cell membrane defect

Cited by 4 publications

References 5 publications

Spurious Counts and Spurious Results on Hematology Analyzers: White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells, Hemoglobin, Red Cell Indices, and Reticulocytes

Spurious Counts and Spurious Results on Hematology Analyzers: White Blood Cells, Red Blood Cells, Hemoglobin, Red Cell Indices, and Reticulocytes

Effects of bacteria and yeast on WBC counting in three automated hematology counters

Traumatic Intracerebral Venous Thrombosis Associated With an Abnormal Golf Swing

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