Physical and biochemical characteristics of platelets in severely malnourished children with purpura.

Platelets from a group of 24 malnourished children with purpura, and a group of 28 clinically healthy adults and 5 normal children, were studied with determination of platelet mean diameter, soluble protein, lactate concentration and platelet viscous metamorphosis. The data obtained from platelet rich plasma in malnourished children showed an increase in lactate concentration and an inability to increase its lactate when thrombin was added; an abnormal viscous metamorphosis was found also in some patients, due to either a plasma or a platelet abnormality and also in a third group of patients to the presence of both defects.