Detection of antiplatelet antibody with a platelet immunofluorescence assay.
An indirect platelet immunofluorescence assay (PIFA) was developed for detection of circulating antiplatelet antibody in dogs with suspected immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP). The PIFA was performed on 10 healthy dogs with normal platelet counts; 76 thrombocytopenic dogs, 20 of which were suspected of having ITP; and 18 dogs with other diseases and normal platelet counts. All normal dogs and negative test results. Fourteen (70%) of 20 dogs suspected of having ITP had positive test results. Fifteen of the remaining 56 thrombocytopenic dogs had positive test results, 9 had cancer and 6 had other immune-mediated diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, the PIFA assay seemed to be more sensitive (70%) than the megakaryocyte immunofluorescence assay (41%) in the diagnosis of ITP. Of the 9 PIFA-positive dogs with neoplasia, 6 had lymphoproliferative disorders. The PIFA was positive in 5 of 18 diseased dogs with normal platelet counts. There was an inverse relationship between the platelet count and the intensity of fluorescence in the PIFA-positive dogs. We conclude that the PIFA is a sensitive screening method for detecting circulating antiplatelet antibody.
Kristensen
A T
AT
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Weiss
D J
DJ
Klausner
J S
JS
Laber
J
J
Christie
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic