We describe and evaluate a simple method for labelling autologous human platelets
with Indium-111-oxine in patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Twenty patients with
immune thrombocytopenia and platelet counts ranging from 5 to 119 × 109/1 were investigated. Platelets were isolated from blood by differential centrifugation,
residual platelets were repeatedly washed from the red cell layer and buffy coat and
labelled with In 111 in saline. A mean of 55% ± 21 of platelets were harvesteo from
the blood, labelled with 49% ± 24 efficiency and 15.8 × 108 labelled platelets reinjected
to the patients. Contamination of the platelets with red cells and plasma was low.
The labelled platelets were viable as assessed by in vitro aggregation, recovery in the circulation and mean survival time. This method permits
quantitative platelet imaging with autologous labelled platelets in patients with
severe thrombocytopenia.
Key words
Indium-111-labelled platelets - Platelet labelling in thrombocytopenia - Platelet
label method