A case highlighting the importance of a broad differential diagnosis when the platelet count is low and the steroids are not working.
Case Presentation
A 34-year-old man was referred with presumed immune thrombocytopenia after two weeks of steroids produced no response. A repeat film showed platelet clumping; the true count was normal.
Discussion
Pseudothrombocytopenia from EDTA-dependent agglutination is easy to miss and easy to confirm. Always look at the film before committing a patient to immunosuppression.
