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Platelet function in autoimmune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
Rand ML,
Dean JA
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1998.tb01236.x
Subject(s) - platelet , medicine , thrombocytopenic purpura , autoantibody , immunology , mean platelet volume , antibody
Platelets play an essential role in the formation of haemostatic plugs. The quantitative defect of platelets in autoimmune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can result in bleeding complications, but most ITP patients have platelets with normal or enhanced function. Platelets in ITP are large, young, so‐called “stress” platelets with increased platelet‐associated autoimmune antibody (immunoglobulin G). Young stress platelets are more functional platelets, and their presence may account for bleeding times in ITP patients that are shorter than would be predicted on the basis of the patients' (low) platelet counts. Some ITP patients have significant mucocutaneous bleeding with platelet counts >50 × 10 9 l −1 ; this may be due to qualitative platelet dysfunction (e.g. brought about by inhibitory antiplatelet autoantibodies).