Thrombocytopenic Platelet Disorders

Welcome to another issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. In this issue, Catherine Hayward has compiled a collection of articles focused on thrombocytopenic platelet disorders,[1] beginning with acquired disorders such as immune thrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, followed by articles on a wide range of congenital disorders including rare, autosomal recessive conditions, autosomal dominant conditions, and X-linked disorders. This is the first issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis to feature this topic in such detail. This issue is Catherine Hayward's second contribution as a guest editor, with another issue on platelet function produced in 2009.[2] That earlier issue primarily reviewed the various processes involved in testing for various platelet disorders, including light transmittance aggregometry, whole blood aggregometry, point-of-care and screening tests, and issues related to standardization and quality control.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Also featuring in the earlier issue were articles on myosin heavy chain 9-related platelet disorders, and the role of genetic testing, platelet electron microscopy, glycoprotein analysis, and platelet procoagulant mechanisms in platelet function disorders and their investigation, as well as articles on the evaluation of platelet function disorders in neonates and children and the level of laboratory testing required for diagnosis or exclusion of a platelet function disorder.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] In total, there is no doubt that the level of testing performed by scientists and currently available to clinicians has grown markedly in the past decade.[15]

This issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis is therefore a nice compendium to compliment the previous issue on platelet function. It is also worth noting that one of the articles in this issue, by Pels,[16] represents a contribution from a 2009 Eberhard F. Mammen Young Investigator Award winner.[17]

I would like to thank Catherine Hayward for putting together this excellent issue, and I hope that our readers enjoy its many riches. I also look forward to Catherine's next editorial contribution to Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

REFERENCES

• 1 Bunimov N, Hayward C PM. Thrombocytopenic platelet disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2011;  37 (6) 617-620
• 2 Hayward C P, Favaloro E J. Diagnostic evaluation of platelet disorders: the past, the present, and the future.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 127-130
• 3 Cattaneo M. Light transmission aggregometry and ATP release for the diagnostic assessment of platelet function.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 158-167
• 4 McGlasson D L, Fritsma G A. Whole blood platelet aggregometry and platelet function testing.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 168-180
• 5 Harrison P, Mumford A. Screening tests of platelet function: update on their appropriate uses for diagnostic testing.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 150-157
• 6 Pai M, Hayward C P. Diagnostic assessment of platelet disorders: what are the challenges to standardization?.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 131-138
• 7 Favaloro E J. Internal quality control and external quality assurance of platelet function tests.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 139-149
• 8 Althaus K, Greinacher A. MYH9-related platelet disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 189-203
• 9 Nurden A T, Fiore M, Pillois X, Nurden P. Genetic testing in the diagnostic evaluation of inherited platelet disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 204-212
• 10 Clauser S, Cramer-Bordé E. Role of platelet electron microscopy in the diagnosis of platelet disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 213-223
• 11 Miller J L. Glycoprotein analysis for the diagnostic evaluation of platelet disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 224-232
• 12 Weiss H J. Impaired platelet procoagulant mechanisms in patients with bleeding disorders.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 233-241
• 13 Israels S J. Diagnostic evaluation of platelet function disorders in neonates and children: an update.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 181-188
• 14 Mezzano D, Quiroga T, Pereira J. The level of laboratory testing required for diagnosis or exclusion of a platelet function disorder using platelet aggregation and secretion assays.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35 (2) 242-254
• 15 Favaloro E J, Lippi G, Franchini M. Contemporary platelet function testing.  Clin Chem Lab Med. 2010;  48 (5) 579-598
• 16 Pels S. Current therapies in primary immune thrombocytopenia.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2011;  37 (6) 621-630
• 17 Favaloro E J. Editorial.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2010;  36 (5) 469-470