Platelet associated immunoglobulins (PAIgG and PAIgM) in autoimmune thrombocytopenia

An enzyme linked assay system was used to quantitate platelet associated IgM (PAIgM) in addition to platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) in normal subjects and in 145 patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP). The mean PAIgM level in normals was 1.17 ng/10(6) platelets with a range of 0.01-2.45 ng (mean +/- 2 SD). The corresponding PAIgG values as follows: mean 6.0 ng, range 2.0-10 ng/10(6) platelets. Elevated PAIgG was seen in 67.6% and abnormally raised PAIgM in 79.3% of patients. Both values were raised together in 57.2% and either elevated PAIgG or PAIgM in 89.7%. All patients with PAIgG values greater than 4 times upper limit of normality were found to have abnormal PAIgM. The relevance of elevated PAIgM, the possible interaction between PAIgG and PAIgM and the implication of our results in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenia are discussed.