Improvement of platelet function following plateletpheresis in patients with myeloproliferative diseases

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Abstract
Four patients with myeloproliferative diseases and acute hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications of thrombocytosis were treated with plateletpheresis by discontinuous-flow centrifugation. Reduction of platelet counts was achieved rapidly, without complications and was associated with clinical improvement. In all 4 cases, abnormal platelet aggregation testing was present before pheresis, but improved immediately after pheresis. Platelet-sizing data obtained in 1 case suggested that during the pheresis procedure, a population of larger volume platelets was selectively removed. The efficacy of plateletpheresis in these clinical situations may be related to the selective removal of a large abnormal platelet population.