Summary
Immune thrombocytopenia is due to platelet destruction by circulating glycoprotein-specific
antibodies and is found in various disorders. Methods for the detection of platelet-associated
IgG (PAIgG) are generally sensitive but unspecific, whereas glycoprotein-specific
assays are highly specific but less sensitive. Usefully, a sensitive screening method
for PAIgG detection would also provide information for differential diagnosis. We
developed a quantitative direct Platelet Immunofluorescence Test (PIFT) by flow cytometry
and studied 79 thrombocytopenic patients with immune thrombocytopenia and other disorders.
The sensitivity of the assay was 94%, its specificity 66% for the detection of a clinically
obvious immune thrombocytopenia. PAIgG levels of patients with immune thrombocytopenia
differed significantly from those of other patients with low platelet counts (p <0.001).
The quantitative PIFT proved to be a sensitive method for PAIgG detection and should
therefore be used as a screening method. In addition, it could be helpful for differential
diagnosis in marked thrombocytopenia where a MAIPA is not feasible.
Key words
Thrombocytopenia - platelet-associated IgG - flow cytometry