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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Separation of Plasmodium falciparum Late Stage-infected Erythrocytes by Magnetic Means
Published on: March 2, 2013
Anticoagulant-induced pseudothrombocytopenia after a plasmodium falciparum infection in a five-year-old child
M Igala1, L Kouégnigan Rerambiah2, L E Ledaga Lentombo2
1Service de médecine interne, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Libreville.
Abstract:
Pseudothrombocytopenia or artefactual thrombocytopenia is an abnormally low number of platelets due to their agglutination in a sample tube, with no ex vivo clinical translation. It occurs in ethylene diamine tetraacetic (EDTA) test tubes. Non-EDTA anticoagulants, such as citrate, fluoride oxalate, and heparin lithium, may be responsible for it, alone or in combination. It can occur in patients with autoimmune diseases, neoplasia, atherosclerosis, liver disease, or infections. We report the case of a 5-year-old child, who after falciparum malaria showed persistent thrombocytopenia. Further exploration has led to the conclusion of pseudothrombocytopenia due to three anticoagulants: EDTA, citrate, and fluoride oxalate.
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