Platelet ADP release reaction in cirrhosis of the liver

Abstract

We had examined the abnormality of platelets in cirrhosis of the liver from the standpoints of the count of megakaryocytes and its classification, platelet spreading test, platelet volume and its distribution and platelet aggregation, and had found the disturbance of platelet formation in the bone marrow and fragility of the platelets in cinhosis of the liver.In this paper, to clarity further the qualitative abnormality of the platelets in cirrhosis of the liver, we examined 51Cr-labeled platelet life-span and its organ distribution, platelet uptake and release of 14C-labelled hydroxytryptamin (5-HT), ADP content in the platelet (ADP release reaction aceording to Weiss) and platelet antibody.Conclusively, in cirrhosis of the liver, 1) platelet life. span was shortened to 2.9 days against 4.3 days of normal subjects, 2) radioaccumulation in the spleen was not always to same degree in the patients with same platelet counts, life-span and similar splenomegaly, 3) uptake and release of 14C-5HT by platelet were decreased to 73.8% and 52.20 against 89.5% and 73.8% of normal subjects, 4) ADP content in the platelets was also decreased to 32.5% against 54.8% of normal subjects, 5) platelet antibody was negative in all the cases, these findings suggest that in cirrhosis of the liver, reduction of platelet counts may owe not only to hypersplenism but also the disturbance of platelet formation in the bone marrow and its selated qualitative abnormary of the platelet tself