Use of the Megathrombocyte as an Index of Megakaryocyte Number

Abstract

An excellent correlation was obtained between the percentage of large platelets, or megathrombocytes, and the number of bone-marrow megakaryocytes in 115 patients with both thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic disorders (r = 0.70, p less than 0.001). These included idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (26 cases), drug-induced thrombocytopenia (five cases), disseminated intravascular coagulation (six cases), hypersplenism (10 cases), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (17 cases), iron-deficiency anemia (15 cases) and aplastic anemia (four cases). No correlation was obtained in megaloblastic anemia (16 cases). In thrombocytotic disorders (16 cases), the number of megathrombocytes (rather than the percentage) correlated with the number of megakaryocytes.