Platelet Aggregation and Populations in Acute Leukaemias

We have tried to correlate abnormal functions of platelets – mainly aggregation – with the cellular type of acute leukaemia. In acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the abnormalities of platelet aggregation – when found – are related to plasmatic abnormalities. In acute monoblastic leukaemia, the platelet aggregation with ADP and the release are abnormal and the occurrence of a megacaryocytopathy is suggested. The results found in five cases of acute myeloblastic leukaemia – all peroxydase-positive – were heterogenous; three of the patients were abnormal, mainly with an abnormal release, while two – one of whom being pseudolymphoblastic – were normal when tested before or during effective therapy. These results can be helpful in the understanding of the marrow involvment in different types of acute leukaemia.