Platelet function disorders
Platelets are essential for the maintenance of normal haemostasis. Platelet function disorders may affect the formation of the haemostatic plug and lead to abnormal bleeding.
The first part of this issue focuses on the clinical aspects with an overview of inher-ited and acquired platelet function disorders, an article describing platelets in inflamma-tion, infection and cancer.
In the second part of this special issue, dealing with laboratory aspects, an overview is given of the diag-nostic techniques available, future approaches and guidelines. It starts by describing platelet aggregometry/lumi-aggregometry, followed by contributions on flow cytometry for evaluating platelet disor-ders, molecular testing for platelet function disorders and platelet Transmission Electron Microscopy. Then articles give an overview regarding the moni-toring of antiplatelet therapy, discuss future approaches to studying platelet function and the development of platelet function testing guidelines.
Finally, two articles on external quality assessment / proficiency testing for platelet function disorders and quality control for the platelet function analyser (PFA) show the possibilities and limitations regarding quality assessment.