Toxic granulation

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Toxic granulation in two white blood cells, bone marrow aspiration.

Toxic granulation refers to dark coarse granules found in

granulocytes, particularly neutrophils, in patients with inflammatory conditions.[1]

Clinical significance

Along with

granulocyte colony stimulating factor, a cytokine drug, may also exhibit toxic granulation.[2]

Composition

Toxic granules are mainly composed of

promyelocytes.[4][5] Although normal, mature neutrophils do contain some primary granules, the granules are difficult to identify by light microscopy because they lose their dark blue colour as the cells mature. Toxic granulation thus represents abnormal maturation of neutrophils.[6]

Similar conditions

Patients with the inherited condition

Alder-Reilly anomaly exhibit very large, darkly staining granules in their neutrophils, which can be confused with toxic granulation.[2][7]

See also

References