Platelet Size and Function in the Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue

Morphological and functional abnormalities of platelets in 117 members of 31 families with heritable disorders of connective tissue have been studied. The presence of larger than normal platelets was found to be common to these disorders but not to all affected patients. It was not a constant feature, but it was inherited consistently within families in which it was present. The data relating to functional deficits of platelets in these subjects both fitted within and extended the previously reported spectrum of platelet abnormalities associated with the conditions studied. Morphological abnormalities did not correlate with functional defects.