Common Hematologic Emergencies—Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemias—A Pivotal Role of Clinical Laboratory

Hematologic emergencies are urgent health conditions which result in significant mortality and morbidity unless timely therapeutic measures are taken. Therapeutic success depends on their timely and accurate recognition by hematology laboratory services. This review highlights the laboratory's role in identifying conditions associated with increased schistocytes (thrombotic microangiopathies) and acute promyelocytic leukemia. Their detection based on the routine laboratory and morphology methods should trigger appropriate additional laboratory workup including molecular tests, flow cytometry, etc. Hematology laboratory professionals should be skilled to recognize these emergencies and recommend additional workup, playing a critical role in the timely diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions.