Measurement of platelet antibodies: where do we stand?
The immune pathogenesis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is well established; however, the diagnostic criteria do not require identification of platelet autoantibodies. The abundance of methods devised for the measurement of platelet antibodies over the years provides evidence of the so-far futile search for a reliable diagnostic assay. The latest generation of platelet antigen-specific assays has widened the knowledge of autoimmune mechanisms in thrombocytopenia, but they still lack sufficient sensitivity to be a useful tool in the routine evaluation of thrombocytopenic patients.
Winiarski
J
J
Department of Paediatrics, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G