Improvement of platelet aggregation abnormalities in thrombocytosis after thrombocytopheresis.

Platelet function tests were performed in three patients with thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative disorders before and after a swift reduction of platelet count by thrombopheresis. The decrease of platelet count obtained after the procedure was reversed in six days. In two patients with platelet aggregation defects, the normalization of aggregation abnormalities was observed after pheresis, followed by a progressive decrease of platelet response until the pre-pheresis values on 6th day. In the third patient with normal platelet aggregation, a progressive increase of platelet aggregation response was noted on the days following thrombopheresis with ischaemic symptoms of a foot toe. In all three patients, the changes of platelet aggregation were accompanied by a related increase of megathrombocytes. In the two patients with platelet aggregation abnormalities, plasma and platelet beta-thromboglobulin levels were related to changes in platelet count and aggregation.