The Bleeding Time Is Inversely Related to Megakaryocyte Nuclear DNA Content and Size in Man

Summary

The relation between the bleeding time and the megakaryocyte nuclear DNA content and size was evaluated in eleven consecutive patients with normal steady state thrombopoiesis undergoing thoracotomy. A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between the bleeding time and both megakaryocyte DNA content (r = −0.71, p <0.05), megakaryocyte total size (r = ‒0.58, p <0.05), megakaryocyte cytoplasmic size (r = −0.64, p <0.05) and megakaryocyte nuclear size (r = −0.58, p <0.05). The megakaryocyte total size and the megakaryocyte cytoplasmic size were statistically significantly larger in men than women (p <0.02 and p <0.03 respectively). Changes in the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow are associated with changes in primary haemostasis in normal individuals.

Keywords

Bleeding time - Megakaryocytes - Platelets - Platelet volume

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