Clinical evaluation of a new test of hemostasis: the Filter Bleeding Time

The clinical value of a new in vitro test of hemostasis, which we have called Filter Bleeding Time (FBT), was determined in 59 patients referred because of a suspected bleeding disorder. FBT is based on the progressive slowing of the drop rate of citrated blood through a filter of woven Dacron under constant pressure as platelet aggregates occlude the filter. The value for FBT is defined as the time when the blood drop interval has reached 1 minute. The Mayo modification of the Ivy bleeding time (IBT) was performed in all patients; platelet response to ADP, collagen, epinephrine and arachidonate was performed in 24 patients. In 30 normal volunteers FBT measured 1-3 hr after venipuncture was 2.8 +/- 1.5 (means +/- 1SD) min. The FBT was prolonged in 3 of 3 patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, 2 with disseminated intravascular coagulation, 1 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 with myelofibrosis, and 1 who had taken aspirin. In 6 patients FBT was prolonged while IBT was normal: 4 after taking aspirin, 2 with polycythemia vera. All 6 had reduced platelet aggregation (PA) to ADP (5 microM), collagen (2 mg/ml), epinephrine (5 microM) and/or arachidonate (1.7 mM). In 3 patients FBT was normal while IBT was abnormal: 1 with disseminated intravascular coagulation, 2 undiagnosed; 1 of these 3 had abnormal PA. Of 6 patients with von Willebrand's disease, FBT was prolonged in 5 and borderline in 1; IBT was prolonged in 3, normal in 1, and not done in 2 infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)