Proplatelets in the Peripheral Blood: Morphological Similarity to the Process of Platelet Release

Excerpt

We report a 62-year-old Punjabi woman with past history of ischemic stroke and hypertension and was found to have thrombocytopenia (Platelet count- 18 × 10⁹/L) on routine complete blood counts (CBCs). She did not have family history of any hematological illness. She presented with no bleeding manifestations and was receiving low dose Aspirin and anti-hypertensive medications (chlorthalidone for last 7 years) for her medical condition. Her previous platelet count which was available was 96 × 10⁹/L, 3 years back when she suffered from stroke. The renal and liver function tests were within normal limits. Viral screen for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Dengue virus was negative. The autoimmune work-up including anti-centromere, anti-Jo 1, anti-Scl-70, anti-Sm, anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/Ra and anti-nRNP was negative. Peripheral smear and bone marrow examination was undertaken to further investigate thrombocytopenia. The peripheral smear showed many large and elongated proplatelets with staining characteristic similar to the mature platelets (Fig. 1a–d). The approximate platelet count including proplatelets on the peripheral smear was 40 × 10⁹/L.

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