The pathophysiology and clinical relevance of platelet heterogeneity
CB Thompson and JA Jakubowski
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Recent studies on platelet heterogeneity support the hypothesis that
platelet production is regulated to maintain a constant functional platelet
mass. In concept this form of regulation is analogous to the manner by
which RBC production is controlled to maintain the oxygen- carrying
capacity of blood. The platelet mass appears to correlate more closely with
platelet function than the platelet count alone, since several factors in
addition to the platelet count have been shown to influence the platelets'
hemostatic function. These factors include platelet size, density, age, and
previous hemostatic interactions. Application of these concepts to clinical
problems has provided important insights into platelet physiology and
reactivity. Failure to account for differences in platelet heterogeneity
among individuals may introduce significant errors in the interpretation of
data from laboratory and clinical investigations. However, despite
advances, a number of practical issues remain to be resolved before
measurements of platelet heterogeneity become accepted as routine clinical
tests and are used in the diagnosis of pathologic states.
Volume 72,
Issue 1,
pp. 1-8,
07/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
