Platelet hyperaggregability and thrombosis in patients with thrombocythemia.

The relation between platelet hyperaggregability and thrombosis was assessed in 28 patients with thrombocythemia due to myeloproliferative diseases and 11 with reactive thrombocytosis. None of the patients with reactive thrombocytosis had thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications, but thrombosis was noted in seven patients and bleeding in two patients with thrombocythemia. Nineteen were asymptomatic. In patients with thrombosis, bleeding time, platelet glass retention, and clot retraction were normal, but evidence of platelet hyperaggregability was present in all but one. Serial studies on six patients revealed a close association between platelet hyperaggregability and ischemic attacks. Neither patient with bleeding complications had evidence of platelet hyperaggregability, although poor platelet function was found in one. Platelet function in asymptomatic patients can be classified as hyperactive, hypoactive, or normal.