Platelet Satellitism: A Culprit for Spurious Thrombocytopenia

Platelet satellitism (“adherence of platelets”) is a unique, infrequent phenomenon characterized by formation of platelet rosettes around polymorphonuclear leucocytes seen in peripheral smear prepared from EDTA-mixed blood. Platelets may interact occasionally with polymorphonuclear leucocytes forming complexes in particular conditions that may lead to spurious thrombocytopenia. This phenomenon appears to be induced or enhanced by presence of EDTA, commonly used anticoagulant. It is not associated with any definite disease process. The etiology may be immunological or non-immunological. EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia has no pathologic significance other than potentially placing a patient in jeopardy for inappropriate treatment of thrombocytopenia that does not exist.