Autoimmune thrombocytopenia: determination of platelet-specific autoantibodies by flow cytometry

Autoimmune thrombocytopenia is a disorder characterized by antibody-mediated accelerated platelet destruction. Despite its clinical importance, the diagnosis of which is one of exclusion, thus inevitably associated with potential difficulties. Current methods used to determine antigen-specific antibodies including MAIPA and the radioactive immunobead assay, are not routinely used due to methodological and practical limitations. To facilitate diagnosis, flow cytometric methods have been developed, suitable for testing a single or multiple samples. The feasible flow cytometric methods with their high sensitivity and specificity should facilitate the routine use of diagnostic methods for autoimmune thrombocytopenia and permit follow-up to determine immune remission.