Retrospective analysis of platelet serology investigations performed in 1990 by twenty laboratories belonging to the "Cooperative Group for the Study of Platelet Immunology".
BACKGROUND
Retrospective co-operative analysis of platelet serology investigations was performed during 1990 by twenty laboratories from eighteen institutions.


METHODS
Data regarding the serological investigations, the methods used and the clinical diagnosis of the patients investigated during 1990 were collected and analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 2591 patients was investigated, including 505 potentially alloimmunized subjects and 2086 subjects with autoimmune disease-related conditions. Alloantibodies were detected in 46% of the patients, while autoantibodies were detectable in 30% of the autoimmune conditions. The antibodies were mostly of the IgG class; however, IgM were detected in 19% of alloimmunized patients and in 28% of those with detectable autoantibodies. Each laboratory used one or more methods. In all nine methods were used.


CONCLUSIONS
Collection of the multi-center retrospective results gave an approximate picture of the diagnostic potential of the Group, which is ready for the next phase of the cooperative activities that will consist of serological workshops for technical standardization and antibody characterization.
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007558:Italy; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012699:Serology / Q000379:methods
D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007518:Isoantibodies