title: Platelet function and interferon alpha-2a treatment in essential thrombocythaemia.
abstract: The effects of interferon (IFN) alpha-2a treatment on platelet function were evaluated in 20 patients affected by essential thrombocythaemia (ET). Baseline data documented the well-known abnormalities of in vitro platelet aggregation and the constant presence of a delta-storage pool deficiency. The therapy in all patients reduced the platelet count, and in the majority of them caused a partial improvement of in vitro platelet aggregation. Although the mean intraplatelet ADP level improved during treatment, it always remained below the normal range documenting persistence of the delta-storage pool deficiency. The plasma beta-TG levels, which initially were high, significantly decreased during treatment, but the beta-TG ratio and the platelet beta-TG values always remained within the normal range--this suggests an absence of platelet activation either before or during therapy. Our results demonstrate that, despite significantly reducing the platelet count, IFN alpha-2a treatment only partially corrects the qualitative platelet abnormalities in ET.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Institute L. & A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gugliotta
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cascione
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattioli Belmonte
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vianelli
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tura
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis; D010981:Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003094:Collagen; D004837:Epinephrine