The ultrasonic detection of platelet aggregates

The echogenicity of platelet aggregates in platelet-rich plasma and whole blood was evaluated in stirring and flowing in vitro models. Real-time two dimensional ultrasonic images were obtained with transducers operating at 3.0, 5.0, 10 and 12 mHz. Platelet-rich plasma was not echogenic. The addition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) resulted in the formation of multiple, discrete echoes that increased in size and intensity. This echogenicity was time and dose-dependent and could be quantitated by videodensitometry. Whole blood was echogenic, but the addition of ADP resulted in a time and dose-dependent increase in the size and echogenicity of the reflections. The overall echogenicity of whole blood declined with the development of platelet aggregates. There is inter- and intra-aggregate variability in the echogenicity of aggregates. Aggregates were best seen with transducers operating at the higher frequencies. These results imply that the detection of in vivo platelet aggregates may be feasible with ultrasonic imaging.