2016, Number 3
Usefulness of antiplatelet antibodies determination in the diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia
Hernández-Blas AI, Rodríguez-Morales U, Vallejo-Villalobos MF, Zepeda-Camacho L, Cano-Jiménez O, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ
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Language: Spanish
References: 14
Page: 169-174
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ABSTRACT
Background: Primary immune thrombocytopenia is characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia with platelet counts below 100x109/L and the absence of other causes or diseases that may be associated with thrombocytopenia. Antiplatelet antibodies are the main mechanism for the accelerated destruction of platelets, as they are directed against different proteins that are present on the surface of platelets. The demonstration of antiplatelet antibodies is an aid for the diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia and may be useful in assessing the response to treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.Objetive: To evaluate the usefulness of the determination of antiplatelet antibodies in the diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia.
Material and Method: An observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study of 10-year period and in a single institution; the results of the determination of antiplatelet antibodies were analyzed in a group of patients with thrombocytopenia by the method of flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against the IIb and IIIa glycoproteins of platelets and anti-human polyvalent globulin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate.
Results: 2,549 determinations were performed for the study of antiplatelet antibodies; of these, only 75 tests were positive (2 in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia and 73 in patients with other causes of thrombocytopenia). 2,474 determinations were negative in which 62 cases of primary immune thrombocytopenia where shown. In a group of 64 patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia, only 2 patients showed positive antiplatelet antibodies (3%). Using the Fisher’s exact test, we did not found a significant association between the presence of antiplatelet antibodies and diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (p=0.712682).
Conclusions: Findings indicate a poor association of antiplatelet antibodies and primary immune thrombocytopenia; the test conducted by the described method seems to be useless in the diagnosis of primary immune thrombocytopenia.
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