Platelet associated antibodies

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Blood test

A negative test is normal.

Antiplatelet antibodies are present.

Antiplatelet antibodies are antibodies that attach to and destroy platelets. This causes a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), which can lead to excessive bleeding.

Antiplatelet antibodies may appear in the blood for unknown reasons (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) or as a side-effect of certain drugs, such as heparin. These drugs can sometimes cause the immune system to identify its own platelets as abnormal or foreign, and attack them.

Antiplatelet antibodies are classified as either IgM or IgG.

Review Date: 02/01/2005
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.