title: Platelet count and thrombopoietic activity in patients with chronic renal failure.
abstract: The frequency of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) is controversial. This study was undertaken to investigate the platelet count in 55 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis and in 19 patients with CRF before hemodialysis had begun. In both groups platelet counts were similar and significantly reduced, 175,000 +/- 6,500 and 181,000 +/- 10,800 compared to 253,000 +/- 3,700/mm3 in the control (p less than 0.0001). 31% of hemodialysis patients had thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 150,000/mm3). The megakaryocyte number in their bone marrow aspirate was not reduced. Primary renal disease, androgen treatment or parathyroidectomy did not affect the platelet count. Thrombopoietic activity using 75Se-selenomethionine incorporation into platelets measured in 7 thrombocytopenic patients was found to be reduced, 6.77 +/- 0.29 vs. 9.06 +/- 0.27 (X 10(-2)%: p less than 0.001). This study shows that the platelet count is reduced and mild thrombocytopenia is frequent in patients with CRF. A possible cause for the platelet count reduction is insufficient thrombopoietic activity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D011868:Radioisotopes; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012643:Selenium; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000378:metabolism; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D012645:Selenomethionine; D012643:Selenium