Platelet adhesion defect in type I Gaucher Disease is associated with a risk of mucosal bleeding

Galia Spectre*, Batia Roth, Galia Ronen, Dror Rosengarten, Deborah Elstein, Ari Zimran, David Varon, Shoshana Revel-Vilk

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Patients with type I Gaucher Disease (GD) may have a clinically significant bleeding tendency that is disproportionate to their platelet count. We hypothesized that impaired platelet adhesion might contribute to bleeding tendency. Adult patients with type I GD with platelet counts ≥130×109/l and haematocrit ≥30% (n=48), obligatory carriers (n=52), and healthy controls (n=19) were studied. Platelet adhesion, using the IMPACT-R (Cone and Plate(let) Analyser), and platelet aggregation were determined. Type I GD patients had significantly lower platelet adhesion [surface coverage %, median (interquartile range)] 4·6 (3·2-7·5), compared to controls, 8·7 (7·6-10·3), or carriers, 8·1 (6·5-9·4; P=0·001). Platelet adhesion was not affected by the use of disease-specific enzyme replacement therapy but was improved in patients after splenectomy, 7·2 (5·8-9·3). Mixing tests showed that the reduced adhesion was an intrinsic platelet defect. Mucosal bleeding was reported in 17 (35·4%) patients and was associated with abnormal adhesion [P=0·037, with an Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval) of 5·73 (1·1-29·6)]. Five patients (22%) had reduced platelet aggregation, all of whom had reduced platelet adhesion. Platelet aggregation defect was not associated with mucosal bleeding. In conclusion, platelet adhesion defect is a major thrombocytopathy in type I GD patients and can explain part of the increased tendency to bleeding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)372-378
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume153
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adhesion
  • Bleeding
  • Cone and platelet analyser
  • Gaucher disease
  • Platelets

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