Circulating Megakaryocytes in Patients with Pulmonary Inflammation and in Patients Subjected to Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Thirty patients with pulmonary inflammation and 17 subjected to cholecystectomy were investigated for circulating megakaryocytes in a cubital vein using the saponin-hemolysis leukoconcentration technique. The number of circulating megakaryocytes was significantly higher in patients with pulmonary inflammation than in healthy humans. In 15 patients with bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and leukocytosis the arithmetic mean was 15.6 megakaryocytes/1.5 ml blood (range 3-47). In 15 patients with bronchitis and a normal leukocyte count, the arithmetic mean was similarly 14.1 megakaryocytes/1.5 ml blood. After cholecystectomy a significant maximum increase in the number of circulating megakaryocytes to 3 times the preoperative value was found on the 3rd postoperative day but not on the other postoperative days. Of the observed megakaryocytes, 99% had only a narrow rim of cytoplasm or were naked nuclei.