Basic Data for Reference Intervals in Koreans for Parameters Produced by Multiplate Platelet Function Analyzer

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Multiplate analyzer (Dynabyte GmbH) has been recently introduced as a platelet function test for patients taking antiplatelet drugs. The study aimed at providing basic data for determining the reference interval of parameters produced by Multiplate in Koreans and to study the factors that influence those parameters. METHODS: Blood was collected from 35 healthy volunteers (female 18, male 17) into tubes containing hirudin or 3.2% sodium citrate. Whole blood platelet aggregations triggered by adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP), ADP-high sensitive (ADP+PGE1 only in hirudin samples), arachidonic acid (AA), collagen or thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP) were investigated using Multiplate according to the manufacturer's instructions. Data from healthy volunteers for the area under the curve (AUC) were determined from the central 95th percentile of the results. RESULTS: The values of AUC in hirudin samples for all agonists were significantly higher than those in sodium citrate samples. The AUC values in hirudin (sodium citrate) samples were as follows ADP 38-107 (18-119) U; ADP+PGE1 16-91 U; AA 64-156 (32-117) U; collagen 53-112 (26-108) U; and TRAP 81-163 (49-149) U. The parameters from Multiplate were significantly correlated with leukocyte counts, but not with hematocrit levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data were derived from only 35 subjects, the results are expected to be helpful in determining the reference interval at a single institute and may serve as basic data for future cumulative data of reference intervals from multiple institutes in Korea.