FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 300:106-111 January 18, 1979 Number 3 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

We applied a radiolabeled Coombs antiglobulin test to the diagnosis and management of immune thrombocytopenia in adults and children. This assay substantiated that the majority of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura have increased levels of IgG on their platelets. Platelet-associated C3 was elevated in a subset of these patients, some of whom had normal levels oet-associated IgG, thus suggesting a role for C3 in the pathogenesis of the thrombocytopenia. The assay enabled us to anticipate a change in clinical status, establish the presence of immunologic remission after splenectomy and propose several mechanisms by which corticosteroids act. Platelets from a patient with the post-transfusion-purpura syndrome also carried increased IgG, indicating a role for IgG antibody or IgG-containing immune complexes in the destruction of host platelets in this disease. The radiolabeled Coombs test provides a general means to help diagnose, manage and study immune platelet disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Taylor, S. M., Reilly, M. P., Schreiber, A. D., Chien, P., Tuckosh, J. R., McKenzie, S. E. (2000). Thrombosis and shock induced by activating antiplatelet antibodies in human Fcgamma RIIA transgenic mice: the interplay among antibody, spleen, and Fc receptor. Blood 96: 4254-4260 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nomura, S., Matsuzaki, T., Ozaki, Y., Yamaoka, M., Yoshimura, C., Katsura, K., Xie, G. L., Kagawa, H., Ishida, T., Fukuhara, S. (1998). Clinical Significance of HLA-DRB1*0410 in Japanese Patients With Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Blood 91: 3616-3622 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gomez, F., Ruiz, P., Schreiber, A. D. (1994). Impaired Function of Macrophage Fc{gamma} Receptors and Bacterial Infection in Alcoholic Cirrhosis. NEJM 331: 1122-1128 [Abstract] [Full Text]