Platelet storage pool disorder in pregnancy: Utilising thromboelastography to guide a risk-based delivery plan

2021 ◽  
pp. 1753495X2098025
Author(s):  
Timothy AC Snow ◽  
Rezan A Abdul-Kadir ◽  
Keith Gomez ◽  
Adrian England

We present a case of a 33-year-old woman in her third pregnancy diagnosed with platelet storage pool disorder who had previously suffered two postpartum major obstetric haemorrhages. Platelet storage pool disorder is a rare bleeding disorder where the platelet count is normal but platelet function is impaired due to deficiency of dense granules. A peripartum plan devised by an extensive multi-disciplinary team using principles for managing other bleeding and platelet function disorders helped minimise her risk of major haemorrhage. We also describe how point-of-care thromboelastography can help guide management and enable an individualised risk-benefit discussion with the woman about her anaesthetic choices.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 2518-2518
Author(s):  
Jonathan L Sladky ◽  
Jennifer Klima ◽  
Linda Grooms ◽  
Bryce A Kerlin ◽  
Sarah H O'Brien

Abstract Abstract 2518 Background: Although delta-granule platelet storage pool deficiencies (δ-PSPDs) are common disorders of platelet function, they are relatively poorly studied and described. One unknown is the relationship between δ-PSPDs and the PFA-100, a screening test originally developed for von Willebrand's disease but now widely used as a general screening test for coagulopathies. Previous studies have suggested that the PFA-100 is less effective in detecting mild platelet function disorders (which include δ-PSPDs) than more severe platelet function disorders. These studies, however, were limited by small numbers of patients with a variety of different platelet function defects. We examined PFA-100 results in a larger pediatric patient population diagnosed specifically with δ-PSPD, and determined the relationship between PFA-100 results and platelet electron microscopy (the standard for diagnosis of δ-PSPDs). Methods: This study is a retrospective medical record review of patients 0 to 18 years of age diagnosed with δ-PSPD at Nationwide Children's Hospital between January 1, 2008 and July 31, 2010. We defined δ-PSPD as patients with an average of fewer than 3.68 delta granules per platelet. We obtained demographic data including age, sex, and family history of bleeding. Lab data was also extracted, including PFA-100 and platelet electron microscopy. We determined the percentage of δ-PSPD patients with an abnormal PFA-100. To examine the correlation between the PFA-100 results and the average number of granules per platelet we used Spearman's Rho as our non-parametric measure of dependence. Results: A total of 88 patients diagnosed with δ-PSPD were included in this study. Of our patient population, 35% were male, and 61% had a first degree family history of easy bruising or bleeding, while only 15% had a family history that was positive specifically for platelet function disorders. The most common symptoms on presentation were easy bruising (56%), epistaxis (39%), oral cavity bleeding (35%) and menorrhagia (30%). Eighty-one of these patients underwent PFA-100 testing, of which 41% had an abnormal CEPI value, 17% had an abnormal CADP value, and 14% had abnormal results for both PFA cartridges. We found no statistical correlation between CEPI closure time and the average number of granules per platelet (rho = 0.0315, p value = 0.7798), nor between CADP closure time and the average number of granules (rho = -0.0095, p value = 0.9328)(Figure). Additionally, the number of bleeding symptoms in each patient was not statistically correlated with CEPI closure times, CADP closure times or platelet EM. Discussion: The PFA-100, which is widely used as a screening test for suspected bleeding disorders, was abnormal in fewer than half of pediatric patients diagnosed with δ-PSPD. We found that PFA-100 results did not correlate with presence or severity of delta-granule platelet storage pool deficiencies as determined by platelet electron microscopy. When evaluating patients with suspected bleeding disorders, PFA-100 testing alone cannot be used to rule out the presence of a δ-PSPD. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Author(s):  
W.T. Gunning ◽  
J.N. Turner ◽  
K. Buttle ◽  
E.P. Calomeni ◽  
N.A. Lachant ◽  
...  

There are a variety of conditions which have been associated with prolonged bleeding times. If other etiologies including von Willebrand's disease have been ruled out, a platelet function disorder must be considered. The best, if not only, technique to make this diagnosis is the electron microscopic evaluation of whole air dried platelets. Bull first described the presence of dense granules in whole platelets in 1968 and the technique has been utilized extensively The electron dense or delta granules are easily distinguished from the larger more numerous alpha granules which are electron lucent. The significance of the dense granules is that they are known to be “storage pools” of serotonin, calcium, adenosine di- and triphosphate, and pyrophosphate. Prolonged bleeding times may be directly related to an insufficiency of these substances. The diagnosis of a storage pool deficiency is made when either the storage content of the dense granules is abnormal or their number is diminished. We observe normal platelets to have 4-6 dense granules, which agrees with the literature.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalitha Nayak ◽  
Alvin H. Schmaier

The antiestrogenic drug tamoxifen, used in patients with breast cancer, is associated with an increase in arterial and venous thrombotic events, the mechanism of which is not clearly understood. We report a case of a lady who presented with new bruising and prolonged bleeding following a tooth extraction 4–6 weeks after starting tamoxifen. Investigations were consistent with an acquired platelet storage pool disorder. Repeat platelet function analysis was normal, performed 3 months after discontinuation of tamoxifen. We present a previously clinically unreported effect of tamoxifen on platelet function.


Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1300-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Reddington ◽  
EK Novak ◽  
E Hurley ◽  
C Medda ◽  
MP McGarry ◽  
...  

Mepacrine uptake into platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes was analyzed to further characterize the dense granule defects in a group of seven mouse pigment mutants that have characteristics of platelet storage pool disease (SPD). In contrast to our previous studies using electron microscopy, this method revealed that all mutants had normal numbers of dense granules. However, total mepacrine uptake in all mutant platelets was significantly diminished to less than 50% of normal uptake. Also, the flashing phenomenon observed when normal dense granules are irradiated with ultraviolet light was either greatly diminished or absent when platelets of individual mutants were similarly irradiated. Therefore the principal defect in the mutant platelets is an inability to accumulate dense granule contents rather than an absence of the granules. Mepacrine uptake into megakaryocytes was indistinguishable in normal and mutant mice. This indicates the mutant dense granule defects appear either very late in megakaryocyte development or early in platelet formation in correlation with development of the mature dense granule. By standard transmission electron microscopy we have not been able to detect gross structural or subcellular abnormalities in either platelets or megakaryocytes of mutant mice. It appears all seven mutants produce immature or functionally abnormal dense granules.


1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Meyers ◽  
M Fukami ◽  
H Holmsen

Platelets from cattle with the morphologic homolog of the Chediak-Higashi (CH) syndrome are essentially devoid of secretable nucleotides and serotonin. There are reduced but still substantial amounts of secretable calcium and magnesium. The storage pool deficiency may be, in part, due to a functional granule defect. Platelets from CH cattle take up serotonin and protect it from degradation for several hours. If these platelets are treated with thrombin, serotonin and bivalent cations are released by mechanisms similar to that of secretion, suggesting a granule location for the released serotonin and cations. This suggestion is verified by subcellular fractionation studies where platelets are first incubated with 14C-serotonin then lysed using a French press. Organelles were then separated on a sucrose gradient by centrifugation. Serotonin in normal bovine platelets is associated with the dense granule or pellet while in CH platelets serotonin is primarily found in a region of the sucrose density zone that in normal platelets contain alpha granules. These findings suggested that some granules in CH platelets are able to acquire the bivalent cation and amine but not the nucleotide component of the bivalent cation-nucleotide-amine storage complex that is thought to occur in normal dense granules.Ultrastructural identification of the serotonin-containing CH granule is not known. There are 2 identifiable granule populations in CH platelets, alpha granules and fibrous matrix granules. Based on serial sectioning freeze fracture and morphometric studies, there are less than 4 of these granules/platelet. Mepacrine studies also demonstrate 2 granule populations. One population has an incidence of 2 per granule and characteristics of normal dense granules. Since the number of fibrous matrix granules and mepacrine granules is similar, a common basis for these granules which has at least some dense granule characteristics, i.e., mepacrine storage, is suggested.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (01) ◽  
pp. 60-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Jurk

SummaryAlthough platelets act as central players of haemostasis only their cross-talk with other blood cells, plasma factors and the vascular compartment enables the formation of a stable thrombus. Multiple activation processes and complex signalling networks are responsible for appropriate platelet function. Thus, a variety of platelet function tests are available for platelet research and diagnosis of platelet dysfunction. However, universal platelet function tests that are sensitive to all platelet function defects do not exist and therefore diagnostic algorithms for suspected platelet function disorders are still recommended in clinical practice.Based on the current knowledge of human platelet activation this review evaluates point-of-care related screening tests in comparison with specific platelet function assays and focuses on their diagnostic utility in relation to severity of platelet dysfunction. Further, systems biology-based platelet function methods that integrate global and specific analysis of platelet vessel wall interaction (advanced flow chamber devices) and posttranslational modifications (platelet proteomics) are presented and their diagnostic potential is addressed.


Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1300-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Reddington ◽  
EK Novak ◽  
E Hurley ◽  
C Medda ◽  
MP McGarry ◽  
...  

Abstract Mepacrine uptake into platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes was analyzed to further characterize the dense granule defects in a group of seven mouse pigment mutants that have characteristics of platelet storage pool disease (SPD). In contrast to our previous studies using electron microscopy, this method revealed that all mutants had normal numbers of dense granules. However, total mepacrine uptake in all mutant platelets was significantly diminished to less than 50% of normal uptake. Also, the flashing phenomenon observed when normal dense granules are irradiated with ultraviolet light was either greatly diminished or absent when platelets of individual mutants were similarly irradiated. Therefore the principal defect in the mutant platelets is an inability to accumulate dense granule contents rather than an absence of the granules. Mepacrine uptake into megakaryocytes was indistinguishable in normal and mutant mice. This indicates the mutant dense granule defects appear either very late in megakaryocyte development or early in platelet formation in correlation with development of the mature dense granule. By standard transmission electron microscopy we have not been able to detect gross structural or subcellular abnormalities in either platelets or megakaryocytes of mutant mice. It appears all seven mutants produce immature or functionally abnormal dense granules.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 23-26
Author(s):  
Ahmad Fadi Maatouk ◽  
Jennifer Brockington ◽  
Vinay Gudena

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 2036-2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Swank ◽  
M Reddington ◽  
O Howlett ◽  
EK Novak

Abstract Several inherited human syndromes have combined platelet, auditory, and/or pigment abnormalities. In the mouse the pallid pigment mutant has abnormalities of the otoliths of the inner ear together with a bleeding abnormality caused by platelet storage pool deficiency (SPD). To determine if this association is common, two other mouse pigment mutants, muted and mocha, which are known to have inner ear abnormalities, were examined for hematologic abnormalities. Both mutants had prolonged bleeding times accompanied by abnormalities of dense granules as determined by whole mount electron microscopy of platelets and by labeling platelets with mepacrine. When mutant platelets were treated with collagen, there was minimal secretion of adenosine triphosphate and aggregation was reduced. Lysosomal enzyme secretion in response to thrombin treatment was partially reduced in muted platelets and markedly reduced in mocha platelets. Similar reductions in constitutive lysosomal enzyme secretion from kidney proximal tubule cells were noted in the two mutants. These studies show that several mutations that cause pigment dilution and platelet SPD are associated with abnormalities of the inner ear. Also, these mutants, like previously described mouse pigment mutants, are models for human Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and provide additional examples of single genes that simultaneously affect melanosomes, lysosomes, and platelet dense granules.


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