title: Defect of platelet aggregation and adhesion induced by autoantibodies against platelet glycoprotein IIIa.
abstract: A young patient developed chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Prednisone therapy normalized platelet number, but bleeding symptoms did not disappear. Platelet function was severely impaired, since platelet aggregation, ATP release and adhesion to collagen and subendothelial matrix were significantly reduced. Plasma and purified immunoglobulins of the patient reproduced the functional defects in normal platelets. Immunoblotting revealed that patient's plasma contained an antibody reacting with a component of platelets with the same electrophoretic mobility of glycoproteins IIIa of normal platelets. Moreover, patient's plasma inhibited the binding of an anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody to platelet surface. Additional immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone and azathioprine normalized platelet function and induced the disappearance of bleeding symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Clinical Medicine 2), University of Pavia-IRCCS S. Matteo, Italy.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Balduini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertolino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piovella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bellotti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samaden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001791:Blood Platelet Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone