[Demonstration of spontaneous platelet aggregation and research on circulating platelet aggregates: methodology, results and significance]

136 control subjects and 131 patients, consisting of 23 diabetics with severe retinopathy, 43 cases of valvular disease with or without a prosthesis and 65 patients who had a cerebral vascular accident, were systematically investigated for the presence of spontaneous platelet aggregation 31 controls and 108 patients were examined for reversible circulating platelet aggregates using the technique of Wu and Hoak. Frank spontaneous aggregation was observed in 6 of the 136 control subjects, 6 of the 21 patients without a valvular prosthesis and 2 of the 22 patients with such a valvular prosthesis and 2 of the 22 patients with such a prosthesis, only 1 of the 23 diabetics and 5 of the 65 patients with old or recent cerebral vascular accidents. The incidence of spontaneous aggregation seems to be directly related to certain operative conditions: the type of machine used, the number of platelets, and to the treatment administered, the Wu and Hoak test. No statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between spontaneous aggregation and the Wu and Hoak test. The exact clinical significance of the presence of spontaneous aggregation is still disputed. However, the examination for this abnormality should be routine as its presence can alter the interpretation of the results of aggregation induced by various aggregating agents.