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. 2022 Jul;28(4):642-648.
doi: 10.1111/hae.14578. Epub 2022 May 5.

Platelet function testing: Current practice among clinical centres in Northern Europe

Timea Szanto  1   2 , Eva Zetterberg  3 , Sofia Ramström  4   5 , Eva B Leinøe  6 , Pål A Holme  7 , Jovan P Antovic  8 , Margareta Holmström  9 , Pall T Onundarson  10 , Marika Pikta  11 , Ines Vaide  12 , Anna Olsson  13 , Maria Magnusson  14 , Satu Kärkkäinen  15 , Manar Bitar  16 , Lone Hvitfeldt Poulsen  17 , Riitta Lassila  1   2 ; Nordic Haemophilia Council  1
Affiliations

Platelet function testing: Current practice among clinical centres in Northern Europe

Timea Szanto et al. Haemophilia. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Platelet function tests are used to screen and diagnose patients with possible inherited platelet function defects (IPFD). Some acquired platelet dysfunction may be caused by certain drugs or comorbidities, which need to be excluded before testing.

Aims: To identify current practice among centres performing platelet function tests in Northern Europe.

Methods: A total of 14 clinical centres from Sweden (six), Finland (two), Denmark (two), Norway (one), Estonia (two) and Iceland (one) completed the survey questionnaire, the population capture area of about 29.5 million.

Results: Six of the 14 (42.8%) centres providing platelet function assessment represent comprehensive treatment centres (EUHANET status). A Bleeding score (BS) or ISTH bleeding assessment tool (ISTH BAT score) is evaluated in 11/14 (78.6%) centres and family history in all. Five/14 centres (35.7%) use structured preanalytical patient instructions, and 10/14 (71.4%) recorded questionnaire on the preassessment of avoidance of any drugs or natural products affecting platelet functions. Preliminary investigations of screening tests of coagulation are performed in 10/14 (71.4%), while in 4/14 (28.6%), the diagnostic work-up of IPFD and von Willebrand disease (VWD) is performed simultaneously. The work-up of IPFD includes peripheral blood smear in 10/14 (71.4%), platelet aggregometry in all, flow cytometry in 10/14 (71.4%) and Platelet Function Analysis (PFA) in 3/11 (28.6%). Molecular genetic diagnosis is available in 7/14 (50%) centres.

Conclusions: The considerable variability in the current practice illustrates the need for harmonization between the Northern European centres according to the international registers (i.e. EUHASS) and IPFD guidelines (ISTH, EHA).

Keywords: blood platelet disorders; data collection; platelet function testing; platelets; survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Instructions to order platelet function testing. *VWD =Von Willebrand disease, PT/INR = prothrombin time/international normalised ratio, APTT = activated partial thromboplastin time. The numbers are percentages
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Platelet aggregation methods and their indications. LTA = Light Transmission Aggregometry.‐The numbers are percentages
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Flow cytometry in daily routine and its indications. *BSS = Bernard–Soulier syndrome, **GT = Glanzmann thrombasthenia
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Frequency of use of the different IPFD‐tests in the participating centres. BS = Bleeding Score, BAT = Bleeding Assessment Tool. The numbers are percentages
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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