Rôle des plaquettes réticulées dans le diagnostic différentiel des thrombocytopénies

Reticulated platelets (RP) are the youngest circulating platelets with higher mRNA content. The percentage of RP (RP %) reflect the rate of bone marrow platelet regeneration. In the present study, we measured RP % in 22 patients with thrombocytopenia (10 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura and 12 aplastic patients after chemotherapy) and in 35 normal subjects. RP % was performed by whole blood flow cytometry using double staining : anti CD41 and thiazole orange. The RP % in normal subjects was 2.1 % ± 1.9 %. It was observed that the RP % was significantly higher in patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura than normal subjects than aplastic patients after chemotherapy (31.74 % ± 18.26 % vs 2.1 % ± 1.9 % vs 0.51 % ± 0.19 %); p < 0.01). The RP determination is thought to be a useful marker for estimating thrombopoiesis in bone marrow and for differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenic disorders.