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Platelets in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura are increased in size but are of normal density
Author(s) -
Illes Ilona,
Pfueller Sharron L.,
Hussein Sonay,
Chesterman Colin N.,
Martin John F.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1987.tb02322.x
Subject(s) - platelet , thrombocytopenic purpura , medicine , thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura , purpura (gastropod) , immunology , biology , ecology
Summary To determine whether platelet size and volume are related to one another or to platelet age, subpopulations of platelets from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been produced on the basis of density using Percoll gradients. The density distribution of platelets from patients with ITP and from patients with other forms of thrombocytopenia (thought to be nonimmune in nature) was the same as in normal controls. However, the platelets in each density subpopulation from ITP patients were increased in size. β‐thromboglobulin (βTG) content of platelets from each patient group and the normals increased with density and tended to be higher in ITP than in normal controls. βTG concentration per unit platelet volume and its level in plasma were similar in ITP patients and in normal controls. This suggests that the apparently normal density of ITP platelets was not a result of degranulation of large, dense platelets. Thus platelet size and density are independently determined and the increased size of platelets in immune thrombocytopenia may be the result of abnormalities in their production.