Blasts in peripheral blood with intraosseous infusion

Two children who died of apparent Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) were found to have immature white blood cells, including blasts, in their peripheral blood. No cause for marrow elements in peripheral blood was found. The blood was sampled proximal to an intraosseous infusion, which may have displaced the marrow elements into the venous circulation. Physicians should be aware that patients receiving intraosseous infusions may have immature white blood cells in the peripheral circulation in the absence of malignant, infectious, or infiltrative disease of the marrow.