Platelet and Plasma Serotonin in Glomerulonephritis

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Abstract
Intra-platelet and free plasma serotonin levels can be measured easily on casually collected samples of ACD-blood. Platelet serotonin levels were depressed and plasma serotonin levels were raised in progressive immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis (i.e. patients with disease resulting in renal failure), but were normal in non-progressive forms of glomerulonephritis. Platelet serotonin levels correlated well with the immunological activity of the disease and to a lesser extent with renal function in the groups and in individual patients studied serially, particularly in SLE nephritis. Platelet serotonin levels also correlated with serum-platelet aggregating material (believed to be immune complexes) and with Raji cel1-detected circulating immune complexes. Uptake of 14C-serotonin by platelets in vitro did not correlate with platelet serotonin levels in progressive primary glomerulonephritits, but did so in SLE nephritis. Platelet serotonin assay provides further evidence of platelet involvement in the pathogenesis of glomerular injury, suggests platelet activation in the circulation, and provides an easy measure of this involvement in relation to the clinical and the immunological disease activity.

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