Mediterranean macrothrombocytopenia
WE Behrens
Platelet count, platelet size, and circulating platelet biomass
concentration estimates made with an erythrocyte-calibrated electronic
sizing system on EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples gave population medians
and 95% ranges for 145 asymptomatic Mediterranean and 200 healthy Northern
European subjects. The Mediterraneans had lower platelet counts [161,000
(89,000-290,000)/mul compared with 219,000 (148,000-323,000)/mul] and
higher arithmetic mean volumes [17.8 (10.8- 29.2) cu mum compared with 12.4
(9.9-15.6) cu mum], while the individual lognormal platelet size
distribution profiles were comparable [geomatric standard deviations of
1.78 (1.60-1.98) against 1.70 (1.54-1.88)]; and the platelet biomass
concentrations, given by count per microliter times mean volume times 10-
minus 7 and expressed as a volumetric percentage of whole blood, were
almost identical [0.286% (0.216%-0.379%) against 0.272% (0.201%-0.367%)].
Mediterranean macrothrombocytopenia is, therefore, considered a benign
morphologic variant that requires differentiation from thrombocytopenias in
which the circulating platelet biomass concentration is decreased.
Volume 46,
Issue 2,
pp. 199-208,
08/01/1975
Copyright © 1975 by The American Society of Hematology
