| Abstract: | We investigated platelets and plasma from patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) to elucidate the antigenic determinants at which their autoantibodies are directed, and studied the relationship between anti-platelet antibody and platelet volume. We used flow cytometry to detect platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG), C3 (PAC3), IgM (PAIgM) and platelet volume, and also to determine the binding rate of monoclonal anti-platelet antibodies in patients with ITP. The following results were obtained. 1. Both anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies (21 of 71 patients) and anti-GPIb autoantibodies (3 of 71 patients) were found in ITP. 2. The decrease in platelet count in patients without anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies was significant. 3. The increase in platelet volume was found more frequently in patients with a platelet count less than 50,000 and in untreated patients. 4. There was a positive correlation between the platelet volume and PAIgM in patients with a platelet count less than 30,000 and high levels of PAIgM. |
