Antibody against megakaryocytes in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
R. McMillan, G. A. Luiken, R. Levy, R. Yelenosky and R. L. Longmire
Purified human IgG from both serum and the culture of human splenic cells
was radiolabeled with 125I. Incubation of radiolabeled IgG from patients
with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with normal homologous
platelets or bone marrow cells resulted in significant (P less than .001)
binding when compared with control IgG. Radioautographs showed that the
radioactivity was associated with the platelets or megakaryocytes. The
antiplatelet antibody in ITP has specificity for antigens associated with
both platelets and megakaryocytes and suggests that thrombopolesis may also
be affected in this disease.
