Numerical analysis of in vivo platelet consumption data from ITP patients.

Background Numerical methods have recently allowed quantitative interpretation of in vivo murine platelet consumption data in terms of values for the random destruction rate constant (RD), intrinsic lifespan (LS), and the standard deviation of ln LS (SD), as well as the platelet production rate (PR) and age distribution (AD). But application of these methods to data obtained in thrombocytopenic patients is problematic for two reasons. First, such data has in all cases been obtained with radiolabeled platelets, and uptake of the radio-isotope by long lived cells complicates the analysis. Second, inferred values of the platelet production rate (PR) and random destruction rate (RD) are difficult to interpret, since increased RD can occur either as a cause or a consequence of thrombocytopenia.