Download PDF
Thromb Haemost 1988; 59(03): 357-359
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1647495
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Bleeding Time Is Inversely Related to Megakaryocyte Nuclear DNA Content and Size in Man

S Dalby Kristensen
The University Departments of Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield and King’s College Hospital London, UK
,
Philip M W Bath
The University Departments of Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield and King’s College Hospital London, UK
,
John F Martin
The University Departments of Medicine, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield and King’s College Hospital London, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 31 August 1987

Accepted after revision 04 January 1988

Publication Date:
29 June 2018 (online)

  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Summary

The relation between the bleeding time and the megakaryocyte nuclear DNA content and size was evaluated in eleven consecutive patients with normal steady state thrombopoiesis undergoing thoracotomy. A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between the bleeding time and both megakaryocyte DNA content (r = −0.71, p <0.05), megakaryocyte total size (r = ‒0.58, p <0.05), megakaryocyte cytoplasmic size (r = −0.64, p <0.05) and megakaryocyte nuclear size (r = −0.58, p <0.05). The megakaryocyte total size and the megakaryocyte cytoplasmic size were statistically significantly larger in men than women (p <0.02 and p <0.03 respectively). Changes in the megakaryocytes in the bone marrow are associated with changes in primary haemostasis in normal individuals.

Keywords

Bleeding time - Megakaryocytes - Platelets - Platelet volume
 

  • References

  • 1 Harker L, Slichter S. The bleeding time as a screening test for evaluation of platelet function. N Engl J Med 1972; 287: 155-159
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Milner PC, Martin JF. Shortened bleeding time in myocardial infarction and its relation to platelet mass. Br J Med 1985; 290: 1767-1770
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Duke WW. The relation of blood platelets to haemorrhagic disease. JAMA 1910; 55: 1185-1192
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Szczeklik A, Milner PC, Birch J, Watkins J, Martin JF. Prolonged bleeding time, reduced platelet aggregation, altered PAF-acether sensitivity and increased platelet mass are a trait of asthma and hay fever. Thromb Haemostas 1986; 56: 283-287
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Martin JF, Shaw T, Heggie J, Penington DG. Measurement of the density of human platelets and its relationship to volume. Br J Haematol 1983; 54: 337-352
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Thompson CB, Love DG, Quinn PG, Valeri CR. Platelet size does not correlate with platelet age. Blood 1983; 62: 487-494
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Mielke CH. Measurement of the bleeding time. Thromb Haemostas 1984; 52: 210
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Taylor IW, Milthorpe BK. An evaluation of DNA fluorochromes, staining techniques and analysis for flow cytometry. The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 1980; 28: 1224-1232
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Bessman JD. The relationship of megakaryocyte ploidy to platelet volume. Am J Haematol 1984; 16: 161-170
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Levine RF, Hazzard KC, Lamberg JD. The significance of megakaryocyte size. Blood 1982; 60: 1122-1131
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Giles C. The platelet count and mean platelet volume. Br J Haematol 1981; 48: 31-37
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Levin J, Bessman D. The inverse relation between platelet volume and platelet number. J Clin Lab Med 1983; 101: 295-307
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Nagl W. Endopolyploidy and polyteny in differentiation and evolution. Amsterdam: Elsevier North Holland Biomedical Press; 1978
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Penington DG, Olsen TE. Megakaryocytes in altered platelet production: cell numbers, size and DNA content. Br J Haematol 1970; 18: 447-463
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Odell TT, Murphy JR, Jackson CW. Stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis by acute thrombocytopenia in rats. Blood 1976; 48: 765-775
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Martin JF, Trowbridge EA, Salmon G, Plumb J. The biological significance of platelet volume: its relationship to bleeding time, platelet thromboxane B2 production and megakaryocyte nuclear DNA content. Thromb Res 1983; 32: 443-460
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Evatt BL, Kellar KL, Ramsey RB. Thrombopoietin: past, present and future in. Levine RF, Williams N, Levin J, Evatt BL. (ed) Progress in clinical and biological research. 215 New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc.; 1986: 143
    Google Scholar
  • 18 O’Brien JR, Etherington M, Jamieson S, Klaber MR, Ainsworth JF. Stressed template bleeding-time and other platelet-function tests in myocardial infarction. Lancet 1973; i: 694-696
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Trowbridge EA, Slater DN, Kishk YT, Woodcock BW, Martin JF. Platelet production in myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Thromb Haemostas 1984; 52: 167-171
    PubMedGoogle Scholar