Study of Platelets Sialylation by Flow Cytometry for the Differential Diagnosis of ICT

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is the most frequent auto-immune cytopenia. There is no specific biological marker and the diagnosis often results from the exclusion of other differential diagnoses, notably inherited thrombocytopenia. Recent studies have reported an original platelet destruction mechanism in ITP, by antibody-mediated desialylation of membrane proteins. The detection of platelet sialylation can be readily achieved using flow cytometry. This could provide a new biomarker of ITP, useful to ascertain a diagnosis of ITP and guide towards proper patient management.