Autologous indium-111 labelled platelets can be used for kinetic studies in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura [AITP]. The objective of this study was to evaluate some biological and clinical factors influencing the labeling efficiency.
Methods: We studied incubation media (Plasma media [MP] or dry media [MS]), platelet concentration [NP], mean platelet volume [VPM], hemoglobin level and pathology associated with AITP.
Results: This was a retrospective study of 93 platelets labelling (43 in MS and 50 in MP), 38 primary AITP (41%) and 55 secondary AITP (59%). The labeling efficiency was 72% (78% in MS versus 53% in MP; p < 0.0001). The labeling efficiency was correlated with VPM (p = 0.0004), NP (p = 0.03), hemoglobin level (p = 0.037) and type of AITP (p = 0.0036). The incubation medium, hemoglobin level and type of the AITP have an independent predictive value on the labeling efficiency.
Conclusion: These data confirm the influence of the incubation medium on the labeling efficiency and identify two other predictive criteria, hemoglobin level and type of AITP.
Keywords: autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura; indium-111 oxine; labeling efficiency; platelets; platelets labeling.