Microscopic platelet size and morphology in various hematologic disorders
Z Zeigler, S Murphy and FH Gardner
Microscopic evaluation of apparent platelet size and morphology was
examined in a variety of hematologic disorders. The time of preparation of
the blood smear was important. An artifactual increase in platelet size was
noted on blood films from 20 normal individuals that were prepared either
immediately or 180 min after venipuncture. The clearest differentiation of
patient categories was obtained with smears prepared 60 min after
venipuncture using blood anticoagulated with K3EDTA. Under these
conditions, normal size and morphology values were found in
thrombocytopenic patients with aplasia or with increased splenic pooling.
In contrast, large size values were a reliable finding in idiopathic
thrombocytopenic purpura patients, whose platelet counts were less than
50,000/microleter. Large size values were also noted in patients with
infiltrated bone marrows or myeloproliferative syndromes regardless of the
platelet count. The last two groups usually showed abnormal platelet
morphology with greater than 10% hypogranular platelets. Normal platelet
size and morphology were observed in patients with iron-deficiency and
megaloblastic anemias and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus who had normal platelet counts.
Volume 51,
Issue 3,
pp. 479-486,
03/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by The American Society of Hematology
