A Study on Thrombokinetics In Korean Hemorrhagic Fever

Abstract

To elucidate the cause of thrombocytopenia in Korean hemorrhagic fever, platelet counts, ll1In-labeled allogeneic platelet survival and bone marrow changes were assessed in the early stage in thirteen male patients with follow-up evaluation six to eight days later. 111In-labeled allogeneic platelet survival was decreased to 111.9 ±21.9 hours in the early stage when the mean platelet count was 54,OOO±28,OOOlmm3 , compared with 147.8± 18.2 hours in normal controls (p<O.Ol). Significant increase of the megakaryocyte number was observed in the bone marrow of the early stage patients while the bone marrow cellularity showed no significant changes. The megakaryocyte size revealed no significant changes. Significant correlations were found among the platelet survival, platelet count, megakaryocyte number and/or megakaryocyte size in the early stage of the disease. It was concluded that thrombocytopenia in the early stage of Korean hemorrhagic fever results from increased consumption, but not from impaired production, of the platelets.