Platelet storage pool deficiency: diagnosis in patients with prolonged bleeding times and normal platelet aggregation

We evaluated 46 patients with prolonged bleeding times, and no demonstrable abnormalities of either von Willebrand factor or platelet aggregation, for possible deficiency of platelet storage pool. Studies of ATP release from thrombin-stimulated platelets and enumeration of dense granules in platelet whole mounts were performed in these patients. Seventeen patients (35%) had both decreased ATP release and decreased numbers of dense granules, suggesting the presence of a storage pool defect. Thus, storage pool deficiency may be present in the absence of the classical aggregation abnormalities. Evidence of storage pool deficiency should be considered in all patients with an isolated unexplained prolongation of the bleeding time. The methods used in this study are readily applicable to most clinical laboratories.