Platelet function and interferon alpha-2a treatment in essential thrombocythaemia.
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.
Catani
L
L
Haematology Institute L. & A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
Gugliotta
L
L
Cascione
M L
ML
Mattioli Belmonte
M
M
Vianelli
N
N
Belardinelli
A R
AR
Tura
S
S
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
D007370:Interferon Type I; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D003094:Collagen; D004837:Epinephrine