Platelet membrane glycoprotein abnormalities in myeloproliferative disease

[Megakaryocytic myelosis--clinical aspects, morphology and platelet function]

The study reviews 22 patients, aged between 19 to 73 years, with megakaryocytic myelosis. In the course of the disease 11 patients presented haemorrhagic manifestations, 12 patients thrombotic complications, and 6 patients the association of haemorrhage and thrombosis. The maximum platelet counts ranged from 524 to 2700 x 10(9)/l. The bone marrow showed a conspicuous megakaryocytic proliferation with polyploidy of the nuclei, giant forms and clusters. Marked alterations of erythro- and granulopoiesis were excluded. There was no evidence for a reactive thrombocytosis in any case. Patients with thrombocythaemia due to megakaryocytic myelosis (n = 14), with secondary thrombocytosis of various origin (n = 16), and a control group of healthy donors (n = 20) were investigated with respect to the aggregation behaviour and the total calcium content of blood platelets. In 9 of 14 patients with megakaryocytic myelosis platelet rich plasma did not respond to epinephrine (15 mumol/l), a concentration which induced at least weak aggregation in 14 of 16 patients with secondary thrombocytosis and also in healthy subjects. In patients with megakaryocytic myelosis the mean extent of aggregation induced by epinephrine, collagen or adenosine diphosphate was significant lower as compared to controls whereas in patients with secondary thrombocytosis in most cases this parameter did not differ significantly from that of controls. The total calcium content of platelets was significantly lower in both groups of patients as compared to controls. In 14 patients with megakaryocytic myelosis the concentration of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex was estimated by crossed- and rocket-immunoelectrophoresis and found to be decreased in 8 of them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)