Peripheral Blood Examination Findings in SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral blood abnormalities in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been fully elucidated. We report qualitative and quantitative peripheral blood findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and compare them with a control group. METHODS: We reviewed electronic medical records, complete blood counts, peripheral blood smears, and flow cytometry data in 12 patients with SARS-CoV-2. These were compared with 10 control patients with symptoms suspicious for SARS-CoV-2 but who tested negative. RESULTS: No significant differences were noted in blood counts, except that absolute lymphopenia was present frequently in the control group (P < .05). Acquired Pelger-Huët anomaly (APHA) was noted in all COVID-19 cases, in most cases affecting over 5% of granulocytes. This contrasted with APHA in only 50% of control cases, affecting fewer than 5% of granulocytes in all cases (P < .05). Monolobate neutrophils were exclusive to COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 patients had greater frequency of plasmacytoid lymphocytes (P < .05). Flow cytometry data revealed absolute CD3+ T-cell count reduction in 6 of 7 patients; all of them required mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphopenia was infrequent in our COVID-19 cohort; however, flow cytometric analysis revealed absolute T-cell count reduction in most cases. COVID-19 cases had significant APHA with monolobate neutrophils and plasmacytoid lymphocytes as compared to controls.

Pelger-Huët anomaly: a critical review of the literature.

Pelger-Huët anomaly (PHA), an autosomal dominant haematological trait is characterised by neutrophil nuclear hypolobulation and modified chromatin distribution. Mutations in the lamin B receptor gene, a member of the sterol reductase family have been identified as the underlying cause. Due to its asymptomatic nature or lack of observer familiarity, PHA is often overlooked. In this review, we give an overview of the main pathophysiological, clinical, morphological and functional aspects of PHA. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach to the assessment of this laminopathy.

Pseudo-Pelger-Huët in kidney-transplanted patients.

Pelger-Huët anomaly is an inherited condition characterized by hyposegmentation of the neutrophil nucleus and excessive chromatin clumping. Acquired Pelger-Huët, also known as pseudo-Pelger-Huët, has been described in several clinical conditions including transplant recipients who received immunosuppressive drugs. The incidence of pseudo-Pelger-Huët in kidney transplant patients, characterized as neutrophil dysplasia, was observed in 9 of 170 patients (5.3%) at the São Francisco Hospital de Assis, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Awareness of possible circulating neutrophil alterations in transplant patients is important for laboratory professionals who should report these findings of cell changes. It should be highlighted that the poor segmentation and the chromatin hypercondensation observed initially in pseudo-Pelger-Huët patients can be suggestive of early-stage neutrophils. Only a combination of laboratory and clinical data will facilitate a better understanding of this anomaly and its correct follow-up and management.

[Hereditary blood anomalies in the Abruzzi population in Valle del Sangro: from hematologic genetics to the history of a population]. / Le anomalie ereditarie del sangue nella popolazione abruzzese della valle del Sangro: dalla genetica ematologica alla storia di una popolazione.

A high incidence of hereditary blood anomalies (particularly Pelger-Huët's congenital granulocytic anomaly and Lepore haemoglobinopathy) is reported in the people of the Sangro Valley (Abruzzo, South Italy). The clinical, haematological, genetic and demographic implications of the high incidence of these pathologies are discussed.

Studies on the Pelger anomaly in Iceland.

An Icelandic family, containing 15 members with Pelger anomally, is reported. Affected individuals in two branches of the family, living in the south-east and east of Iceland, have been traced to common ancestors born 200 years age. The results of scanning of blood films from approximately 20% of the population of Iceland suggest that the Pelger family described contains the only mutation of this kind in Icelanders.