A study of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor-4 plasma levels in steady state sickle cell patients.
To evaluate the platelet function in sickle cell syndromes we measured the beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) plasma values of 45 patients suffering from homozygous sickle cell anaemia (10) and sickle cell beta-thalassaemia (35) in steady state. The results were compared to those of 32 normal controls. Both the beta-TG and PF-4 levels were found to be significantly higher in patients than in controls but the beta-TG:PF-4 ratio was significantly lower in the patients group. This finding and the absence of any statistical correlation between platelet number and beta-TG or PF-4 indicate that platelets seem to be somehow activated in sickle cell syndromes, both in homozygotes and sickle cell/beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes. This platelet activation seems to exist even in steady state sickle cell disease patients, regardless of the functional status of the spleen.
Adamides
S
S
Department of Pathologic Physiology, University of Athens School of Medicine, Greece.
Konstantopoulos
K
K
Toumbis
M
M
Douratsos
D
D
Travlou
A
A
Kasfiki
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis*; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4