1978 Volume 19 Issue 10 Pages 1303-1313
Two cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (TA) and essential athrombia (EA), respectively have been investigated. TA and EA could be differentiated by clot retraction and platelet adhesiveness with fibrin fibers after the addition of CaCl2 to PRP.
ADP and ATP in platelets and ADP released from platelets during platelet aggregation were estimated by the firefly luciferin-luciferase assay. Both ADP and ATP in platelets of TA or EA were within normal ranges. Neither epinephrine nor ADP released from platelets. On the other hand, collagen released normal amount of ADP from platelets, however, it did not cause platelet aggregation. Ristocetin released very small amount of ADP from platelets, but aggregated platelets well.
Membrane fractions of TA and EA platelets were studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophresis. Three major glycoprotein bands stained by Zacharius' periodate-shiff reaction were observed, which molecular weights were 157,000 (Gp-I), 134,000 (Gp-II) and 107,000 (Gp-III) respectively. Both TA and EA showed different patterns of glycoprotein, namely very predominant Gp-I, faint Gp-II and normal Gp-III bands. On the other hand, 15 different polypeptides stained with amide-black 10 B were almost normal in distribution.
