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Coagulation Disorders: Clinical Aspects of Platelet Disorders

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Abstract

Platelets contribute to primary hemostasis and their function is affected by their number and condition. Platelets arise from the fragmentation of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, and circulate in the blood as disk-shaped non-nucleated particles, with a lifespan of 7–10 days. Their average diameter is about 1.5 µm, 20% of the diameter of erythrocytes. Once released from the bone marrow, young platelets enter the circulation, where a large proportion pool in the spleen. It has been suggested that this splenic sequestration of young platelets is the result of a longer transit time of large platelets through the splenic cords. The spleen serves as a reservoir for platelets, containing about one-third, which are then able to enter the circulation after exercise or epinephrine administration. In addition to the spleen, the lungs also contain a small pool of platelets, perhaps 10–15% of the total number, and these are also able to enter the circulation after exercise or epinephrine administration [1].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Di Venere Hospital, ASL Bari, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Del Vecchio

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  1. Antonio Del Vecchio
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Neonatology, University of Siena General Hospital S. Maria alle Scotte Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy

    Giuseppe Buonocore (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics) (Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Head of School of Pediatrics)

  2. University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Rodolfo Bracci (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine) (Formerly Professor of Pediatrics and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine)

  3. University of Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  4. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

  5. Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK

    Michael Weindling (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery) (Professor of Perinatal Medicine, Director of Postgraduate Research, Head of School of Paediatrics Mersey Deanery)

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Del Vecchio, A. (2012). Coagulation Disorders: Clinical Aspects of Platelet Disorders. In: Buonocore, G., Bracci, R., Weindling, M. (eds) Neonatology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_102

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1405-3_102

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-1404-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-1405-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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