Bleeding on patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and normal platelet count

80% of patients with chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) may reach normalization of platelet count after steroids or splenectomy. In some of these cases a bleeding tendency may still persist and this has been attributed to abnormalities of platelet function resulting from the effect of platelet-bound antibodies. We have studied 49 ATP patients in order to assess the frequency and the pattern of this immune thrombopathia, and the correlation with the levels of platelet associated IgG (PAIgG). Only 3 patients (6%) had prolonged bleeding time and persistence of mucocutaneous haemorrhages, whereas 36% presented an altered platelet aggregation pattern. Platelet serotonin content, platelet and plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentration, and malondialdehyde generation after thrombin stimulus were found also altered, but the findings were not clearly correlated with the concentration of PAIgG.