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The Sysmex Scientific Calendar
Sysmex Scientific Calendar 2008
Acute haemolysis
Schistocytes
Granulocytopenia
Extreme leukocytosis
Severe thrombocytopenia
Anaemia and erythrocytosis
Tumour cells
Acute leukaemia
Bacteria
Promyelocytic leukaemia
Thrombocytosis
Malaria
Reference scattergrams


The haematological emergency - Granulocytopenia - Calendar 2008 month 3

Granulocytopenia is defined as a granulocyte count below the lower limit of the reference interval (2,000/µL for adults). If the values drop below 1,000/µL there is an imminent danger of infection, increasing significantly at values below 500/µL . Therefore, a granulocyte count below 500/µL always has to be reported immediately.

With granulocytes being a subpopulation of the leukocytes, a leukocyte count below 500/µL is equivalent to a granulocyte count below 500/µL. On the other hand, a normal or elevated leukocyte count does not exclude granulocytopenia. In this case the differential blood count always has to be the decisive factor.





When evaluating a cell population it is crucial to always consider its absolute cell count /µL and not the percentage. Shown here is leukopenia (400/µL) in combination with granulocytopenia (30/µL) in a patient after chemotherapy





Leukocytes 600/µL, granulocytes 10% (absolute: 60/µL), haemoglobin 6 g/dL and platelets 10,000/µL. Diagnosis: Severe aplastic anaemia. Monitoring before stem cell transplantation.





Leukocyte concentration 180,000/µL. Despite intensive search no granulocytes were detectable. Diagnosis: acute lymphocytic leukaemia (T-ALL).




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