2-Aminoethylisothiouronium
bromide (
AET) increases the sensitivity of blood cells to
complement-mediated immune lysis. We compared the sensitivities of untreated or
AET-treated platelets to immune lysis induced by different types of platelet antibody in the 51Cr platelet lysis test.
AET platelets were 8-16 times more sensitive to
autoantibody and alloantibody, but 8-16 times less sensitive to
drug-dependent antibody.
AET-platelets bound similar amounts of alloantibody but less
drug-dependent antibody, and they lysed at higher
complement dilutions than did untreated platelets.
AET-platelets detected 10 of 25
autoantibodies, 9 of 9
alloantibodies, and 5 of 8
drug-dependent
antibodies. Untreated platelets detected 1 of 25, 6 of 9, and 7 of 8 of these respective platelet
antibodies. The use of
AET-platelets in the 51Cr platelet lysis test increases its sensitivity for detecting non-
drug-dependent platelet
antibodies.
AET-platelets resemble
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) platelets in their enhanced sensitivity to
complement-mediated lysis. They differ from PNH platelets in their insensitivity to immune lysis induced by
drug-dependent
antibodies and, in this respect, are similar to
Bernard-Soulier syndrome platelets.