Abstract
This manuscript represents a republication of a manuscript originally published in
STH in 1995. This republication is to help celebrate 50 years of publishing for STH.
The original abstract follows.
A new in vitro system for the detection of platelet dysfunction, PFA-100®, has been
developed. It provides a quantitative measure of platelet function in anticoagulated
whole blood. The system comprises a microprocessor-controlled instrument and a disposable
test cartridge containing a biologically active membrane. The instrument aspirates
a blood sample under constant vacuum from the sample reservoir through a capillary
and a microscopic aperture cut into the membrane. The membrane is coated with collagen
and epinephrine or adenosine 5′-diphosphate. The presence of these biochemical stimuli,
and the high shear rates generated under the standardized flow conditions, result
in platelet attachment, activation, and aggregation, slowly building a stable platelet
plug at the aperture. The time required to obtain full occlusion of the aperture is
reported as the “closure time.” We have found that impairment of von Willebrand factor,
or inhibition of platelet receptors glycoprotein Ib or IIb/IIIa with monoclonal antibodies
or peptides, resulted in abnormal closure times. An antifibrinogen antibody, in contrast,
failed to show any effect. The test appears to be sensitive to platelet adherence
and aggregation abnormalities. The PFA-100® system has potential applications in routine
evaluation of platelet function in the clinical setting because of its accuracy, case
of operation, and rapid turnaround of results.
Keywords
platelets - bleeding time - platelet function - PFA-100® - von Willebrand disease
