Thrombocytopenia with a circulating platelet agglutinin,platelet agglutinin,platelet lysin and clot retraction inhibitor

A case is reported of thrombocytopenia developing suddenly in a patientwith metastatic carcinoma. Studies of this patient’s serum revealed a plateletagglutinin presumed to be related to the development of the thrombocytopenia in spite of the failure to demonstrate autoagglutination. In addition, atechnique is described for the detection of a platelet lysin and clot retractioninhibitor, both of which could be demonstrated in this patient’s serum. Theidentity of the lysin and retraction inhibitor is suggested.

Studies on the serums of other patients showed a dissociation between theoccurrence of platelet agglutinin on the one hand and of platelet lysin andretraction inhibitor on the other.

Submitted on May 17, 1958 Accepted on July 8, 1958