Summary
This report concerns seven patients with thrombopathy, one of whom, a patient with
a moderately severe bleeding tendency, exhibited a type of platelet deficiency not
previously recorded. There was indirect evidence of platelet insufficiency in the
prothrombin consumption test, which was not substantiated by direct examination of
platelet function in the thromboplastin generation test. Since no antiplatelet activity
could be demonstrated in the plasma, we are proposing the existence of a plasmatic
factor which is necessary for the normal function of platelets, a factor lacking in
this patient’s plasma.
