[Study of primary hemostasis in vitro with the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA-100)]

The PFA-100 is a device recently introduced to explore primary haemostasis in vitro with citrated whole blood at high shear stress. Main pre-analytical variables are platelet count, haematocrit and citrate concentration. The sensitivity for factor von Willebrand deficiency is excellent, albeit lower for platelet dysfunctions. Its performances for the monitoring of antiplatelet treatments have not been yet established by clinical trials. The PFA-100 is very sensitive to fibrinogen receptors inhibitors; for aspirin the sensitivity depends on inter-individual variations and on the dose administered. We still lack studies to estimate its performances for the prediction of peri- and post-operative bleeding in heavy surgery, the pre-operative values have been proved not discriminant. This device appears an useful complement to aggregometry.