Abstract
Platelet flow cytometry is an emerging tool in diagnostic and
therapeutic hematology. It is eminently suited to study the expression
of platelet surface receptors both qualitatively as well as
quantitatively. It can serve as a useful marker for the documentation
of in vivo platelet activation, and thus, fore-warn the risk of
thromboembolism in patients with diabetes mellitus, coronary syndromes,
peripheral vascular diseases, and pre-eclampsia. This technique can
also be extended to study and compare the effect of various
antiplatelet drugs on the level of activation of platelets and to
establish any dose-effect relationship of these drugs. Topographical
localization of platelet granules and study of platelet-platelet and
platelet-leukocyte interaction is also possible by this procedure. All
these parameters serve as pointers towards the presence of activated
platelets in the circulation with its thromboembolic consequences. This
is a simple reliable and cost effective technique which has a wide
application in the diagnosis of various inherited and acquired platelet
disorders. Study of platelet cluster of differentiation (CD) markers in
various inherited disorders i.e. Bernard Soulier’s disease, von
Willebrand disease, Glanzman’s disease, and Grey platelet
syndrome may help categories the molecular lesions in these oft
under-studied disorders.