Thrombocytopathies: Not Just Aggregation Defects—The Clinical Relevance of Procoagulant Platelets

Abstract

Platelets are active key players in haemostasis. Qualitative platelet dysfunctions result in thrombocytopathies variously characterized by defects of their adhesive and procoagulant activation endpoints. In this review, we summarize the traditional platelet defects in adhesion, secretion, and aggregation. In addition, we review the current knowledge about procoagulant platelets, focusing on their role in bleeding or thrombotic pathologies and their pharmaceutical modulation. Procoagulant activity is an important feature of platelet activation, which should be specifically evaluated during the investigation of a suspected thrombocytopathy.

Keywords

• thrombocytopathy
• platelet disorders
• procoagulant platelets
• activation endpoints