In Vitro Leukoagglutination: A Rare Hematological Cause of Spurious Leukopenia

Abstract

Leukopenia secondary to leukocytic agglutination is caused by an ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) which may appear in both benign and malignant states. Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid induced platelets clumping in peripheral blood has been well established, but invitro leukocytic aggregation is very rarest hematological finding. Pseudo-leukopenia resulting from leukoagglutinins has been reported in the cirrhotic state, infections, autoimmune disorders, uremia, in immunosuppressed state or in various malignancies. Though the condition seems to be benign but very important to be detected as these artifactual findings lead to unnecessary investigations and remarkably changed the overall management plan. Here we report the case of a young patient with this rare finding who was admitted to our hospital with progressive labor pains. The analysis of ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), anticoagulated blood was done on automated hematology analyzer reveals leukopenia. The peripheral smear examination revealed multiple aggregates of leukocytes. On repeat sampling in citrate anticoagulant, the complete blood count showed total leukocytic count of 16.5x10⁹/L with absolute neutrophilic count of 11.5x10⁹/L. This is a rare case of spurious leukopenia secondary to in-vitro leukocytic agglutination provoked by EDTA anticoagulant.