The pathophysiology and clinical relevance of platelet heterogeneity

Recent studies on platelet heterogeneity support the hypothesis that platelet production is regulated to maintain a constant functional platelet mass. In concept this form of regulation is analogous to the manner by which RBC production is controlled to maintain the oxygen- carrying capacity of blood. The platelet mass appears to correlate more closely with platelet function than the platelet count alone, since several factors in addition to the platelet count have been shown to influence the platelets' hemostatic function. These factors include platelet size, density, age, and previous hemostatic interactions. Application of these concepts to clinical problems has provided important insights into platelet physiology and reactivity. Failure to account for differences in platelet heterogeneity among individuals may introduce significant errors in the interpretation of data from laboratory and clinical investigations. However, despite advances, a number of practical issues remain to be resolved before measurements of platelet heterogeneity become accepted as routine clinical tests and are used in the diagnosis of pathologic states.