[Improved method of staining RNA in platelets for the evaluation of platelet production in thrombocytopenic patients].
Measurement of RNA stained platelets was proven to be an easy and useful laboratory test to evaluate the state of platelet production in the bone marrow. As the normal value of RNA stained platelet with thiazole orange(TO) in the original method was low, the values of TO-stained platelets in the cases with platelet hypoproduction were within the normal range, but ideally, they should be below the normal range. We modified the original method 1) by using sodium citrate as the anticoagulant instead of EDTA, and 2) by keeping the TO-stained preparation at 4 degrees C until the fluorescence was measured. The normal value of TO-stained platelets was elevated to 22.5 +/- 3.3% (n = 40, M +/- 1SD) or 54 +/- 10 x 10(9)/1. Twenty-seven out of 40 thrombocytopenic case with ITP showed an elevated percentage of TO-stained platelets, 11 cases showed a normal and only 2 cases showed a percentage lower than normal. By contrast, 9 out of 12 cases with platelet hypoproduction showed a lower percentage of TO-stained platelets and no cases showed a value higher than normal. The sensitivity and specificity of this modified RNA staining method for distinguishing thrombocytopenic cases with platelet hyperdestruction from that with hypoproduction were 96% and 75%, respectively.
Yamabe
K
K
Department of Hematological Laboratory, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Satoh
S
S
Tsukada
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood*
D012313:RNA