TY - JOUR
T1 - Cytoplasmic inclusions in leukocytes
T2 - An unusual manifestation of cryoglobulinemia
AU - Maitra, Anirban
AU - Ward, Patrick C J
AU - Kroft, Steven H.
AU - Levinson, Barry S.
AU - Jamal, Saba
AU - Fishleder, Andrew J.
AU - Sendelbach, Karla M.
AU - McKenna, Robert W.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Cryoglobulins are circulating immunoglobulins characterized by reversible, cold-induced precipitation. A variety of laboratory abnormalities, including hypocomplementemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor activity, pseudoleukocytosis, and pseudothrombocytosis, are associated with cryoglobulinemia. Extracellular, faintly basophilic, amorphous deposits of cryoglobulins occasionally have been described in blood smears. In the present study, smears prepared from blood collected at room temperature from 6 patients with cryoglobulinemia exhibited neutrophil and, occasionally, monocyte inclusions containing clear, light pink, or faintly basophilic amorphous material. The inclusions were absent in smears from blood collected and maintained at 37°C. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the material within the leukocyte inclusions was consistent with phagocytosed immunoglobulins. The identification of characteristic cytoplasmic inclusions in leukocytes may be an important clue in the early recognition of cryoglobulinemia.
AB - Cryoglobulins are circulating immunoglobulins characterized by reversible, cold-induced precipitation. A variety of laboratory abnormalities, including hypocomplementemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor activity, pseudoleukocytosis, and pseudothrombocytosis, are associated with cryoglobulinemia. Extracellular, faintly basophilic, amorphous deposits of cryoglobulins occasionally have been described in blood smears. In the present study, smears prepared from blood collected at room temperature from 6 patients with cryoglobulinemia exhibited neutrophil and, occasionally, monocyte inclusions containing clear, light pink, or faintly basophilic amorphous material. The inclusions were absent in smears from blood collected and maintained at 37°C. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the material within the leukocyte inclusions was consistent with phagocytosed immunoglobulins. The identification of characteristic cytoplasmic inclusions in leukocytes may be an important clue in the early recognition of cryoglobulinemia.
KW - Blood smear artifacts
KW - Cryoglobulinemia
KW - Leukocyte inclusions
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M3 - Article
C2 - 10631863
AN - SCOPUS:0034006624
VL - 113
SP - 107
EP - 112
JO - American Journal of Clinical Pathology
JF - American Journal of Clinical Pathology
SN - 0002-9173
IS - 1
ER -