Platelet antibodies in immune thrombocytopenia and related conditions

First-generation assays

In the past, various attempts for platelet antibody testing were made employing diverse techniques: platelet agglutination [3], platelet complement fixation [4], platelet serotonin release test [5], inhibition of clot retraction [4]. These first-generation assays are based on the observation of secondary effects elicited by antibody binding to platelets. These assays depend upon platelet activation or other secondary effects, or they require that these antibodies activate complement after binding to platelets. They are no more used as diagnostic tools for platelet autoantibodies or alloantibodies. The only exception are the ¹⁴C serotonin release assay which is used for the laboratory diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) [6] and the heparin-induced platelet activation (HIPA) assay which follows a similar principle [7].

Second-generation assays

Second-generation platelet antibody tests are based on qualitative assessment or quantitative measurement of immunoglobulin binding to platelets. These techniques make use of anti-human globulin antibodies raised in animals. Sera with anti-human globulin were introduced by Coombs et al. for red blood cell (RBC) antibody testing [8]. Semiquantitative measurement of platelet antibodies was described by Mueller-Eckhardt et al. [9] who used radioactively labeled anti-human globulin: platelet radioactive anti-immunoglobulin test (PRAT). Similarly, platelets suspended in buffered isotonic saline may be incubated with serum, washed and incubated with alkaline phosphatase-labeled anti-immunoglobulin G (IgG) (platelet suspension enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), for details see [10]. A widely used assay, the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT) was described by von dem Borne et al. [11]. These authors reduced “background” fluorescence of platelets due to nonspecific binding of immunoglobulin or immune aggregates to platelets by paraformaldehyde fixation of test platelets prior to incubation with serum [12]. PSIFT is used as one of the reference methods for platelet antibody testing using intact platelets. However, the PSIFT fails to detect antibodies recognizing antigens expressed with very low density, e.g. anti-HPA-5a/b and anti-HPA-15a/b. Immunofluorescence may be analyzed by flow cytometry or with a fluorescence microscope. A variant of this method is the platelet adhesion immunofluorescence test (PAIFT) [13]. Here, fresh or cryopreserved platelets are allowed to attach to the surface within reaction fields on flat glass micotrays.

Another assay for testing IgG binding to intact platelets, which was developed in Japan and is still widely used in Asian laboratories, is the mixed passive hemagglutination assay (MPHA) [14]. Here, platelets or platelet membrane extracts are attached to the surface of round-bottomed microtiter plates and they are incubated with the serum. After washing the wells, a suspension of indicator cells (sheep RBCs coated with anti-IgG) is added to these wells. After spontaneous sedimentation of the indicator cells, wells coated homogeneously with indicator cells indicate a positive reaction, whereas indicator cells concentrated in a small point or ring at the bottom of the well indicate a negative reaction [15].

A common problem with this category of tests arises with the analysis of platelet-specific alloantibodies in sera of highly immunized patients with both platelet-specific and HLA class I antibodies. As HLA class I antigens are also expressed in high density on the platelet membrane, reaction patterns of such sera with different test platelets often do not allow identification of antibody specificities. One possible solution was proposed by Nordhagen et al. who observed that the reactivity of HLA class I antibodies was removed by previous chloroquine treatment of platelets [16]. Testing of sera with chloroquine-treated platelets was abandoned with the availability of third-generation, GP-specific tests.

For detection of alloantibodies, sera are tested with panels of donor platelets with different platelet alloantigen combinations. As ABH determinants are expressed on platelets [17], [18], test platelets should be from blood group O donors, in order to avoid reactions due to IgG anti-A or anti-B. This is also necessary for the GP-specific tests below, as ABH determinants have been identified on platelet GPs [19], [20].

Tests for platelet antibodies may be qualitative with results reported as “negative” or “positive” or results may be described with a scoring system (with possible values 0, 1 … 4 for negative results, weak to strong reactions). This approach is used by many laboratories for reporting results in (indirect) platelet immunofluorescence or ELISA tests.

Quantitative measurements for antibodies bound to platelets have been attempted by measurement of IgG in platelet lysates [21]. However, platelet alpha granules carry significant quantities of immunoglobulins and other plasma proteins and these “nonspecific” antibodies are not involved in immune reactions against these platelets [22]. Quantitative measurement of platelet surface IgG was tried by several groups using competitive anti-human IgG binding assays. The first assay (complement lysis inhibition assay) described by Dixon et al. in 1975 [23] found very high IgG quantities on the platelet surface (200–400 fg/platelet), which were not confirmed by other authors. Using a quantitative, competitive immunoassay (competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay [CELIA]) our group found the IgG quantity on the platelet surface to be lower than 1.8 fg/platelet [24]. Similar quantities were found by Follea et al. [25] and Kelton and Denomme [26]. One femtogram of IgG is approximately equivalent to 4000 molecules, so 2000–6000 molecules are detectable on the surface of a platelet from a normal subject [27] and on test platelets after incubation with serum without platelet antibodies. If this IgG quantity is determined on the patients’ autologous platelets, this is often referred to as platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG). These competitive, quantitative immunoassays were also used for the determination of free platelet antibodies in plasma.

Third-generation assays

With increasing demands for efficient and precise platelet antibody testing, efforts were made to discriminate reactions of platelet reactive antibodies against different structures of the cell membrane. As an example, HLA class I antibodies will react with platelets, but they play no or only a minute role in the pathogenesis of FNAIT or PTP. In contrast, antibodies against GP IIb/IIIa, Ib/IX and, to some extent, GP Ia/IIa and CD109 are implicated in most cases of FNAIT. HLA class I antibodies are common in female patients after previous pregnancies; they may also occur after previous transfusion.

Antigen-specific testing is achieved with third-generation assays which provide information on the protein recognized by platelet antibodies. Among the first attempts were immunoblotting [28] and radioimmunoprecipitation [29]. Due to the fact that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment destroys a considerable fraction of epitopes recognized by platelet alloantibodies and by autoantibodies, immunoblotting is no more used for platelet antibody detection. Immunoprecipitation has been used for scientific studies of platelet antibodies. So, the molecular basis of the HPA-5 [29] and the HPA-15 [30] alloantigen systems has been characterized by radioimmunoprecipitation. But as these techniques are extremely time-consuming, they play no role in the routine immunohematological laboratory.

As soon as well-defined moAb against platelet GPs became available, it seemed attractive to try a “sandwich-immunoassay” with a moAb attached to the solid phase of microtiter plates. These moAb were allowed to capture GP IIb/IIIa or GP Ib/IX from a platelet lysate. The wells were then incubated with plasma/serum samples and autoantibodies were then detected with radiolabeled anti-human IgG [31], [32]. However, this assay was rather insensitive due to high background signals. This is the result of unspecific binding of IgG to the solid phase. This problem was circumvented with the monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens (MAIPA) [33], [34] and immunobead assays [35]. The principle of the (indirect) MAIPA assay is explained in Figure 1. MAIPA has been used in many laboratories and many new alloantibody specificities have been discovered using this technique, especially those against low-frequency alloantigens. This test principle was later applied to tests for antibodies against granulocytes [36], endothelial cells [37], RBCs [38] and for HLA class II antibodies [39]. The MAIPA assay and immunobead assay have the advantage that the human antibodies bind to epitopes on platelet GPs in their natural configuration in the platelet membrane. This makes them potentially more sensitive than assays using isolated GPs attached to solid-phase materials [27]. Assays following a similar principle are modified antigen capture ELISA (MACE) [40] and simultaneous analysis of specific platelet antibodies (SASPA) [41].

Figure 1:

Principle of the MAIPA assay.

Panel A shows a small section of the cell membrane of an intact platelet. Platelets are first incubated with the serum to be tested, apparently (human) antibodies (hIgG) react with GP IIb/IIIa and HLA class I molecules. In this experiment, antibodies against GP IIb/IIIa are of interest: after washing the platelets, they are incubated with a mouse monoclonal antibody against GP IIb/IIIa, which should react with an epitope different from the binding site recognized by the human antibody. After a further washing step, platelets are solubilized with a nonionic detergent (B), the lysate is then centrifuged in order to remove particulate material and the supernatants of the lysate are transferred to a microtiter platelet coated with goat anti-mouse IgG (C). The moAb-labeled GP IIb/IIIa will be fixed to the microtiter plate, whereas the unbound HLA I molecule will get lost during the next washing step. The (human) anti-GP IIb/IIIa will be detected with conventional ELISA technology with an enzyme-labeled goat anti-human IgG (HRPgahIgG).

In addition to these in-house assays, commercial GP-specific assays have been developed: the PakPlus ELISA (Immucor, Dreieich, Germany) and the bead-based PakLx immunoassay (Immucor, Dreieich, Germany). The PakLx assay is based on a suspension of beads (“microspheres”) carrying different GPs with different HPA phenotypes. They are incubated simultaneously with the serum sample to be tested, the beads are then washed and incubated with anti-human IgG labeled with a fluorescent dye. The Luminex instrument (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, USA) identifies the specific microspheres by analyzing their color and it analyzes the fluorescence signals associated with different beads indicating the quantity of IgG bound to these beads. The same principle is used to characterize HLA class I antibodies using single antigen bead tests. Compared to the PakLx technique, MAIPA is more time-consuming and requires skilled technicians. The PakLx assay has been compared to MAIPA, and the results are comparable for most antibody specificities [42]; in some sera, HPA-3a antibodies are missed by PakLx [43].

Even GP-specific tests currently in use have shortcomings. Some maternal FNAIT-sera apparently contain HPA-1a antibodies with low avidity, which are not detected in GP-specific assays with several washing steps. One possible solution is a technique based on purified GP IIb/IIIa bound to a microchip which allows to study the binding kinetics low-avidity anti-HPA-1a (surface plasmon resonance: SPR) [44]. Other problems relate to the fact that platelets with extremely rare alloantigens are not readily available for antibody testing. One possible solution are bioengineered cell lines which may be tested by flow cytometry or with GP-specific assays [45]. Such cells are also useful for the detection of HPA-15 antibodies, which can be detected only with difficulties in platelet-based assays due to the extremely low expression of CD109 on platelets [45], [46].

Indirect and direct platelet antibody tests

“Free” platelet autoantibodies and alloantibodies may be determined in serum or in plasma with tests using intact platelets or with GP-specific tests. In patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), platelet autoantibodies may be detected in the patients’ plasma, and on the patients’ autologous platelets (PAIgG). This situation is analogous to that in RBC autoantibody testing in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. RBC autoantibodies on the patients’ red cells are detected with the direct antiglobulin test (formerly named the direct Coombs test). PAIgG can be determined on the patients’ intact autologous platelets using qualitative (e.g. platelet immunofluorescence) or quantitative tests, e.g. competitive immunoassays [24]. As discussed below, GP-specific tests are more appropriate for the assessment of platelet-bound autoantibodies (“GP-PAIgG”: GP-specific IgG) [47].

Additional techniques: eluates, immunological crossmatch tests, quantitation of anti-HPA-1a, platelet antigen (HPA) typing

A supplementary technique used for the characterization of platelet antibodies is the elution of antibodies from the platelet membrane followed by characterization in one of the assays described above. The principle of our own technique is described in [47]. In brief, platelets with bound antibodies are incubated in buffer with pH 2.8 for 5 min, platelets are spun down by centrifugation and the supernatants with the eluted antibody are pipetted into a separate tube and neutralized with Tris buffer to pH 7.2. This neutralized eluate can be analyzed with a test for platelet antibodies. This technique has been used to characterize PAIgG and a combined strategy of adsorption/elution can be applied to separate alloantibody specificities in sera containing complex antibody mixtures.

Normally, antibody screening and identification is performed with a platelet test panel. This is a collection of platelets or platelet GP preparations which comprises all relevant platelet GPs so that most platelet alloantibodies will be identified. In serological/immunological platelet crossmatch assays, serum is tested with platelets from a certain individual. This is often done to test the immunological compatibility of a platelet concentrate for an immunized patient. Platelet crossmatches are also part of the immunological workup of possible cases of FNAIT.

Quantitative measurement of anti-HPA-1a using MAIPA has been established in order to investigate a possible correlation between antibody concentration and fetal or neonatal thrombocytopenia in FNAIT. Therefore, optical densities (ODs) of serial dilutions of the test serum and a reference standard serum are plotted against dilutions in a semilogarithmic chart. The concentration is derived from the mean distance between the regression curves at three or four OD. Results are expressed in arbitrary units (AU) [48] or international units (IU) [49]. The World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard anti-HPA-1a Serum (100 IU/mL) is available from NIBSC, UK. Quantitative measurements of anti-HPA-1a are recommended by some authors for the prediction of fetal thrombocytopenia in immunized pregnant women [50].

The determination of HPA antigens was first done with serological methods. Today, as the genetic basis of HPA-1a/b [51] and of all other HPA “antigen systems” has been investigated, HPA-antigen typing is done by DNA-based methods. Most HPA polymorphisms are the result of single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

Tests for drug-dependent antibodies

Drug-dependent platelet antibodies (DDABs) are a specific finding in patients with drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (DIT). This is a special species of autoantibodies reacting with (autologous) platelets in the presence of drugs which apparently induced thrombocytopenia. “True” drug-dependent antibodies have to be discriminated from normal platelet antibodies. Only if “incomplete” control experiments yield a negative result and the complete assay (platelets, patient’s serum, drug added) shows antibody binding to platelets, a drug-dependent antibody has been identified. Details are shown in Table 1. Drug-dependent antibodies have been observed with various drugs, sometimes only metabolites of drugs were responsible for DIT [52], [53], which makes testing even more complicated as drug metabolites are often not easily available for testing. For screening purposes, urine from normal subjects or patients ingesting the drug may be used as “raw” metabolite preparation [53]. However, this approach will work only if metabolites of a drug are renally excreted. Drug-dependent antibodies have been detected with complement fixation tests, platelet immunofluorescence tests and ELISA tests with platelets in suspension. As DDABs react with the same platelet GPs as autoantibodies, GP-specific assay as the MAIPA assay may be used as well to find DDABs against GP IIb/IIIa or GP Ib/IX.

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia

FNAIT is the “platelet equivalent” to hemolytic disease of the newborn [58]: pregnant women are immunized against platelet alloantigens on fetal platelets. IgG alloantibodies are then transferred through a neonatal Fc-receptor (FcRn)-mediated mechanism to the fetal circulation. A critical complication of the ensuing fetal thrombocytopenia is cerebral hemorrhage.

Most FNAIT cases are caused by antibodies against platelet-specific alloantigens (HPA antigens). Table 3 lists antibody specificities identified in cases of FNAIT investigated in a German center. Alloimmune thrombocytopenia in a newborn can be suspected, if other cases for neonatal thrombocytopenia (sepsis, infection, hereditary thrombocytopenia) seem improbable. In Caucasian populations, FNAIT is most commonly related to a maternal HPA-1a antibody (approximately 75% of cases: Table 3). In these cases, the mother is of the HPA-1a negative (i.e. HPA-1(a−b+)) phenotype, as are only 2.5% of the population. The affected fetus is HPA-1(a+b+). The father may be HPA-1(a+b+) or HPA-1(a+b−). The initial diagnostics of maternal serum samples in experienced laboratories will include screening for platelet alloantibodies using a GP-specific test with test platelets positive for HPA-1a, -1b, -2a, -2b, -3a, -3b, -4a, -5a, -5b, -15a, -15b. Most laboratories also include a screening for HLA class I antibodies, as it cannot be excluded that HLA class I antibodies in very rare cases may be responsible for FNAIT.

Kroll et al. were the first to demonstrate that a pregnant woman may get immunized against a platelet alloantigen with extremely low frequency, which may result from a mutation in one family (“private” antigen) or which may be very rare [60]. If the fetus inherits such a low-frequency antigen from the father, the mother may get immunized. This maternal antibody will nearly always be missed in an antibody test using a regular platelet screening panel. It will only be found with a platelet serological crossmatch: paternal platelets are tested with maternal serum in a GP-specific immunoassay [60]. In the meantime, many other cases have been discovered using the strategy of including a crossmatch with the MAIPA or another GP-specific assay [61]. It is estimated that approximately 1% of cases of serologically verified FNAIT is induced by antibodies against low-frequency antibodies (Table 3).

Platelet transfusion and platelet reactive antibodies

Patients immunized against HLA class I and HPA antigens often experience febrile, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions if they receive incompatible platelet transfusions. Moreover, their post-transfusion platelet increments will be lower than those observed in many nonimmunized patients. This condition of inadequate post-transfusion platelet increments is referred to as refractoriness to platelet transfusions.

HLA class I antibodies are among the most common specificities implicated in febrile transfusion reactions and in platelet transfusion refractoriness, followed by anti-HPA-5b, anti-HPA-1b, anti-HPA-5a, anti-HPA-2b and anti-HPA-1a [62]. The prevalence of HPA specificities in transfused patients differs from the findings in FNAIT, where anti-HPA-1a is the most common antibody. In immunized transfusion recipients, anti-HPA-5b is the most common specificity. Similar observations were made by Schnaidt et al. [63]. HLA class I antibodies can be detected with the lymphocytotoxic test (LCT) [64], but sera of immunized patients often contain additional HLA class I antibodies (not detectable in LCT) with can be found by GP-specific tests. They are at least partly effective in eliciting transfusion reactions and in reducing post-transfusion platelet increments [62], [65].

Patients with unacceptably low platelet increments should be subjected to screening assays for HLA class I and additional HPA antibodies, preferably a GP-specific test. With a positive result in screening for HLA class I antibodies, their specificities should be analyzed preferably with a single antigen bead antibody identification assay. Such assays based on the Luminex Multi-Analyte Profiling (xMAP) technology are commercially available (Immucor, Dreieich, Germany; One Lambda/BmT Meerbusch, Germany). For selection of compatible donors, determination of the patient’s HLA-A and HLA-B antigens is required. Compatibility can be confirmed with a crossmatch (patient’s serum tested with apheresis donor platelets in a GP-specific assay, e.g. MAIPA).

Post-transfusion purpura

PTP is a rare transfusion reaction occurring almost exclusively in female patients. Approximately 5–9 days after transfusion of RBC concentrates, patients experience a sudden fall of platelet counts, often to extremely low values below 5000/μL. Consequently, these patients are prone to serious bleeding complications. All patients show high-titered platelet alloantibodies, usually against HPA on the GP IIb/IIIa complex. As expected, the patients are negative for the corresponding platelet alloantigens. However, for a limited period of time, their autologous platelets are apparently rapidly eliminated through an immune mechanism. Although first cases of PTP were described 60 years ago [66], [67], the pathophysiology of this reaction is still not fully understood [68]. Serologic and clinical findings are paradoxical: during a secondary immune response, patients’ B-cell-related immune response shows aspects of autoimmunity. Single patients with PTP have been studied more extensively in an attempt to investigate the nature of this phenomenon. In a patient studied in our laboratory [69] a high-titered HPA-1a antibody was detected, which also reacted with HPA-1(a−b+) platelets. An eluate prepared from the patient’s platelets reacted strongly with HPA-1a(+) platelets. These and additional laboratory findings described in [69] suggest that at least in some patients autoreactive HPA-1a-like antibodies exist at least for the limited thrombocytopenic period.

The diagnostic program for the laboratory diagnosis of PTP includes analysis of the HPA alloantibody (GP IIb/IIIa) and HPA genotyping: the patient should be negative for the corresponding antigen (i.e. HPA-1a(−) in patients with anti-HPA-1a). The HPA antibody concentration is always high; additional HLA class I antibodies may be present. In experienced laboratories, GP(IIb/IIIa)-PAIgG will be tested and an eluate from the patient’s platelets.

Passive alloimmune thrombocytopenia (PAT)

Transfusion of plasma containing platelet alloantibodies results in an immediate fall of platelet counts. This has been observed for anti-HPA-1a [70], [71], [72] and anti-HPA-5b [73]. The diagnosis is confirmed by detection of the HPA antibody in the donor’s plasma and detection of the corresponding antigen in the recipient. It is therefore essential to exclude plasma donors with HPA antibodies.

Isoantibodies

Degos et al. [74] were the first to observe that patients with GT may form antibodies reacting with platelets from healthy subjects. Apparently, the majority of patients with complete deficiency of GP IIb/IIIa (type I GT) due to the underlying mutations of the ITGA2B or ITGB3 gene will develop anti-GPIIb/IIIa isoantibodies [75]. These antibodies will be detected using MAIPA using an appropriate test panel. As they are directed against monomorphic epitopes on GP IIb/IIIa, they will react with all donor platelets irrespective of their HPA-1, -3 and -4 phenotypes. Isoantibody formation in these patients will make platelet transfusions in these patients ineffective. Pregnant women with type I GT who got immunized may give birth to children with immune thrombocytopenia resembling FNAIT: neonatal isoimmune thrombocytopenia [76], [77].

Platelets of individuals of East Asian descent lacking GP IV (CD36) on their platelet membrane may form an isoantibody against this protein. In the original description, this antibody, anti-Nak(a), reacted with platelets of more than 97% of all Japanese persons tested [78]. Anti-Nak(a) is observed in patients with platelet transfusion refractoriness, and it may induce isoimmune thrombocytopenia in the fetus and newborn [79]. Anti-Nak(a) is easily detected using the PakPlus or PakLx reagents.

Autoantibodies in ITP and acquired thrombasthenia

In a series pioneering of experiments, Harrington et al. were able to identify a factor in the plasma of patients with ITP, which induced thrombocytopenia in normal subjects [80]. Later, Shulman et al. identified this factor in the immunoglobulin fraction of plasma [81]. Therefore, numerous attempts were made to establish testing for platelet autoantibodies. However, the diagnosis of ITP is still based on clinical criteria excluding other causes for thrombocytopenia.

Investigations on PAIgG (as the “platelet equivalent” to the direct antiglobulin test in RBC autoantibody testing) yielded unsatisfactory results. Elevated levels of PAIgG were identified in patients with both thrombocytopenia of immune or nonimmune origin [82], [83], [84]. So PAIgG is of no value as a diagnostic test for ITP and PAIgG that the relatively high quantities of PAIgG are not related to the immune-mediated clearance of platelets in ITP. This is confirmed by the observations made by Kelton and Steeves who found that PAIgG correlates with platelet-associated albumin. The observation by van Leeuwen et al. that autoantibodies in patients with ITP did not react with platelets from patients with GT gave indirect evidence that at least a subset of platelet antibodies react with the GP-IIb/IIIa complex [85].

With the development of GP-specific assays (immunobead assay [35], MAIPA assay [33] and MACE [40]) free platelet autoantibodies and autoantibodies on the patient’s autologous platelets can now be determined. Antibodies against GP Ib/IX are as common as against GP IIb/IIIa [86]. This requires moAb against GPs IIb/IIIa and Ib/IX for antigen immobilization in MAIPA or immunobead assay, which do not interfere with the binding of autoantibodies against these proteins. Using moAb against GP V in MAIPA, autoantibodies against GP V can also be detected. Although GP V is noncovalently associated in the platelet membrane with the GP Ib/IX complex, GP V and GP Ib/IX dissociate if platelets are solubilized with the commonly used nonionic detergents [87]. Therefore, these anti-GP V antibodies are not detected in the assays for GP Ib/X-specific autoantibodies.

In contrast to PAIgG, GP-PAIgG (together with free GP-specific platelet autoantibodies) is a valuable parameter for the diagnosis of ITP. A summary of published data on the sensitivity and specificity of GP-PAIgG (GPs IIb/IIIa and/or Ib/IX) shows that the sensitivity of GP-PAIgG for the diagnosis of ITP is 45% and the specificity is 94% [88]. The respective figures for free serum antibody are 18% and 21% and 96%. These figures confirm data from our group [47]. An alternative to measurement of GP-PAIgG is the analysis of eluates from patients’ platelets in platelet immunofluorescence: the presence of platelet reactive autoantibodies in the eluate correlates with GP-PAIgG [47]. In assays for GP-PAIgG, it seems to be sufficient to test for IgG autoantibodies. IgM and IgG autoantibodies sometimes occur but in most patients they are found together with IgG autoantibodies [47]. From these data, it can be concluded that negative results for platelet autoantibodies do not preclude the diagnosis of ITP, whereas cell-bound or free platelet autoantibodies against GPs IIb/IIIa, Ib/IX or V are a specific finding for ITP.

In rare cases, patients present with autoantibodies against GP IIb/IIIa which lead to impairment of platelet function rather than thrombocytopenia. The first case was described by Niessner et al. [89]. In the meantime, more cases with acquired thrombasthenia have been described, often associated with lymphatic malignancies [90]. Some patients shift from thrombocytopenic phases and phases with GT-like platelet function defects (and normal platelet counts). The antibody can be assessed by direct MAIPA, and its functional effects by light-transmission aggregometry (LTA) according to Born applied to the patient’s platelets.

Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia: drug-dependent antibodies

Drugs may cause thrombocytopenia due to toxic effects; this occurs typically with chemotherapeutic agents. DIT is a peculiar form of immune thrombocytopenia. It is known for a long time, but its mechanism has remained unclear. Early clinical observations on quinine date back to 1928, and attempts for laboratory investigation were made in 1948 (cited in [91]). DIT occurs not earlier than 7 days after the first administration of a drug; however, relapse may occur within hours if an “immunized” patient with circulating antibodies is reexposed to the drug. Thrombocytopenia may be severe with a rapid fall of platelet count. If quinine/quinidine type of DIT is suspected, detection of DDAB confirms the diagnosis [92]. DDAB testing requires a lot of expertise so it is only available in a few specialized laboratories.

As already described, DDAB may be tested in immunoglobulin binding assays with intact platelets, e.g. a quantitative enzyme immunoassay [53] or an ELISA with suspended platelets. Like normal autoantibodies, DDAB may specifically react with platelet GPs Ib/IX or IIb/IIIa. This was suggested by the observation of van Leeuwen et al. that quinine and quinidine-reactive antibodies reacting with normal platelets did not react with platelets from patients with Bernard-Soulier-Syndrome which are known for their deficiency of (components of) the GP Ib/IX complex. Consequently, DDAB can be tested using MAIPA modified for the detection of antibodies in the presence of the drug [92].

In principle, many compounds are able to trigger DIT. Among the drugs which could be confirmed by positive tests for DDAB in the author’s lab in cases of DIT are quinine, quinidine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, paracetamol, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, vancomycin, eptifibatide and ampicillin. A large list of drugs implicated in DIT can be found in a database maintained by George [93].

Sometimes, administration of drugs induces platelet autoantibodies, similar to those found in ITP. This has been observed in patients receiving gold salts [94], [95]. The principal target for autoantibodies in gold-induced ITP is GP V [96].

A completely different drug reaction affecting platelets is HIT. It is much more common than quinine-type DIT and has a different pathophysiology. Moreover, HIT has different clinical features: in contrast to patients with DIT who are prone to bleeding complications, patients with HIT are endangered by thromboembolic complications. The initial diagnosis is based on clinical data (“4T score” [97]) and immunoassays for platelet factor 4 (PF4)-heparin complexes [98]. Laboratory confirmation requires functional assays: ¹⁴C serotonin release assay [6] or the HIPA assay published by Greinacher et al. [7].