Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia and mucocutaneous bleeding. The former has a primary role in the diagnosis and treatment of ITP. One of the leading causes of miscounted platelets in patients who suffer from ITP is giant platelets which may indicate factitiously a severe false thrombocytopenia. Here, a case of macroth...

OBJECTIVES To detect malarial parasites using the peripheral blood smear (PBS) and to compare the PBS with the immunochromatographic antigen test (i.e. OptiMAL and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). METHODS Six ml of blood was collected from each of 170 patients clinically suspected of having malaria. These samples were used to perform PBS examination, the OptiMAL test and PCR by standard prot...

After the introduction of the automated cell coulters, the incidence of detecting macrocytosis have increased and has varied from 1.7 to 3.6% in several reported series. 1-4 Detectable macrocytosis may not be present in peripheral smear in about 33% of cases with MCV >100fl. 1 Mild increase in MCV (MCV of 100 – 110fl) is particularly common and most often remains unexplained though it cannot be...

Diffuse normolipemic plane xanthoma is a rare disorder often seen as a para-neoplastic manifestation accompanied with gammopathies and hematologic disorders. In this report, a 44-year-old man is presented who was referred to us due to developing erythematous papules on the hands and yellow patches on different parts of the body. Based on cell blood count, peripheral blood smear and positive ant...

A traveler to East Africa developed fever, an eschar on his forearm and thrombocytopenia shortly after returning home to Chennai, India. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection was diagnosed on examination of his peripheral smear. He made a full recovery after receiving a course of suramin.