Platelet hypoaggregation in iron deficiency anaemia: reversible with therapy

The effect of anaemia on in vitro platelet aggregation (PA) parameters (rate, degree and latent period prior to aggregation) were measured in platelet-rich plasma from 30 adult patients (15 males, 15 females) with iron deficiency anaemia and in 20 age-matched control subjects (10 males, 10 females). PA, in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and arachidonic acid, plasma fibrinogen and serum iron parameters were measured prior to putting the patients on iron therapy. And after correction of anaemia the PA and fibrinogen measurements were repeated. The rate and degree of PA with all agonists (except the lowest concentration of ADP) were significantly lower in anaemic patients than in control and in post-therapy subjects (P<0.05-0.001). When the iron parameters were kept constant, haemoglobin showed significant correlation with rate and degree of PA with ADP (P<0.05 each) before therapy and with arachidonic acid (P<0.05 each) after therapy. However, when haemoglobin was kept constant there was no correlation between PA and iron parameters. These results suggest that red cell mass is an important factor in PA and anaemia could lessen the contributory role of platelets in thrombosis.