PLATELETS FROM GIANT PLATELET SYNDROME (BSS) ARE DISCOCYTES AND NORMAL SIZED

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 91  (1) , 109-116
Abstract
A comparison was made between the shape of human platelets obtained from 9 normal donors and 2 BSS [Bernard Soulier Syndrome] donors. Sizes were evaluated from a cinematographic analysis of freely rotating, unfixed, and glutaraldehyde-hardened platelets in citrated PRP [platelet rich plasma] and of platelets on blood smear. On blood smear, the mean dimeters of BSS platelets were 1.7-1.8 times larger than those of normal platelets, with a major fraction having a diameter greater than 2.5 .mu.m. As for normal donors, 80%-90% BSS platelets in PRP were in the disc form (discocyte). In addition, they were essentially indistinguishable from a normal discocyte. Echinocytes (spherical form with pseudopods) for BSS had a main body diameter (i.e., excluding pseudopods) 1.6 times larger than normal and in addition a reduced number of pseudopods. The giant size of BSS platelets apparently results from abnormal behavior of these platelets during the preparation of the blood smear. This disorder may be associated with a defect in the mechanism of platelet shape change.

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