The Relation of Platelet Kinetics to Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes in Chronic Granulocytic Leukaemia

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Abstract
The relation of thrombokinetics to quantitative determinations of megakaryocytes in bone marrow sections was studied in 11 consecutive cases of untreated Ph1-positive chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). The results were compared with controls and with previously obtained data in polycythemia vera (PV), primary thrombocythemia (PT) and in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Platelet survival was significantly reduced in CGL. Platelet production was 5.8 times normal and the megakaryocyte number and volume/.mu.l bone marrow were significantly increased as compared to controls. The increase in megakaryocyte volume was not in proportion to that of number due to a significant decrease in megakaryocyte size. Platelet production was strongly related to megakaryocyte number/mm2 and to the megakaryocyte volume/.mu.l bone marrow. The platelet production rate in relation to a unit of megakaryocyte volume/.mu.l bone marrow was, however, greater in CGL than in controls, PV, PT and ITP. The chief reason for this is most probably the greater expansion of the total bone marrow mass in CGL.