Determination of antiplatelet antibody activity in sera cytotoxic for human lymphocytes

Abstract
Pooled serum aliquots obtained from sensitized potential renal allograft recipients on chronic hemodialysis were evaluated for their lymphocytotoxicity titers against the lymphocytes and then for alloantibodies against the platelets of 7 random donors by 5 methods. Platelet donor specific lymphocytotoxicity was present in 93% of 42 combinations. Of the positive combinations, 57% had a positive test for antiplatelet activity by the 14C serotonin release assay, 16% by the platelet aggregation method, and 19% as judged by acid phosphatase availability on the platelet membrane. No serum tested released β‐glucoronidase or lactic dehydrogenase. No correlation of the height of the titer of antiplatelet activity with that for lymphocytoxicity was detected. Thus, even in sera demonstrating significant activity against donor lymphocyte antigens, detection of associated platelet antibody activity is not uniform. Thus, a positive lymphocytoxic titer does not necessarily predict detectable antiplatelet activity. Therefore, additional tests for detection of antiplatelet activity should also be considered. This study shows that of the tests evaluated, the 14C serotonin release assay is the most sensitive for detection of antiplatelet antibodies.