Improved platelet function following bonemarrow transplantation in an infant with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Histocompatible bone marrow was transplanted into a 9-month-old boy with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Prior to transplantation, the infant had continuous gastrointestinal bleeding; studies of his platelet function revealed defective abhesiveness to glass and poor aggregation to collagen and adenosine diphosphate. Because the donor was normal in these respects, tests of platelet function were used to follow the progress of the attempted graft. Following the transplant the child's bleeding stopped, platelet adhesiveness became normal, and platelet aggregation improved. The data suggest that improved platelet function was partly responsible for the clinical improvement and that the patient was successfully grafted with thrombopoietic tissue.