Is lower ploidy of megakaryocytes another reason for uremic thrombocytopathy?

Abstract

Though it has been generally accepted that uremic serum contains substances which impair platelet function and inhibit erythropoiesis, the mechanism of uremic thrombocytopathy and bleeding tendency is still not clearly understood. By measuring the nuclear DNA content of the megakaryocytes of 20 patients with end-stage renal failure, we demonstrated that ploidy levels correlate with parameters of uremia. High creatinine and BUN levels as well as low hemoglobin or creatinine clearance values correlate with low average ploidy of megakaryocytes. In explaining this phenomenon, uremic inhibition of DNA replication seems to be more important than dialysis or the type of renal disease. As megakaryocytes of higher ploidy are thought to produce more reactive platelets than megakaryocytes of lower DNA content, this could be another reason for uremic thrombocytopathy and bleeding tendency.