A 63-year-old woman. Complete blood count (CBC) showed: leukocytosis 85.93 x 103/µL; 73% blasts. Thrombocytopenia - 30 x 103/µL. Prior to this, CBC results over the last 2 years, with intervals of 3-4 months, were within normal limits: leukocytes 6-7 x 103/µL; platelets 240-260 x 103/µL. Only in two CBCs did the platelet count drop to 50-60 x 10^3/µL. Therefore, I would like to draw colleagues’ attention to the fact that any thrombocytopenia should be thoroughly investigated and differentiated. Glucocorticoids should not be the physician’s only weapon in this problem. Modern laboratories now provide reticulated platelet analysis, which in this specific case would have helped differentiate hypoplastic thrombocytopenia from autoimmune (destructive) thrombocytopenia earlier, and timely indicate bone marrow puncture.
Differential Diagnosis of Thrombocytopenia in Leukemia
A clinical case of leukemia in a 63-year-old female: leukocytosis, 73% blasts, and the value of reticulated platelet analysis for early diagnosis.
