Differences in platelet count and size between marrow and peripheral blood.
Automatized platelet parameters were evaluated in 23 unselected patients undergoing a bone marrow examination for diagnostic purposes, both in medullary and in peripheral blood, with the aim of investigating the biological significance of platelet volume heterogeneity. In the marrow blood the platelet count was 10.07 +/- 21.25% (p < 0.05) lower and the platelet volume 7.93 +/- 6.88% (p < 0.001) higher compared to peripheral venous blood: 275,173 +/- 108,079 versus 296,652 +/- 104,814/mm3 (p < 0.05) and 8.93 +/- 1.46 versus 8.23 +/- 1.57 fl (p < 0.001), respectively. The same behavior was observed between the marrow and the arterial blood collected from 12 out of the 23 patients, while no significant difference was observed between arterial and venous blood. The differences observed might be attributable to a platelet population replacement under homeostatical regulation and seem to support the concept that the large platelets are younger elements.
II Medical Clinic, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
G
G
Aliberti
M
M
Proietta
I
I
Pulignano
L
L
De Franceschi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D048429:Cell Size; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count