Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1992 Oct;83(10):577-81.

[Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: a rare example of an integrin deficit]

[Article in Italian]
Affiliations
  • PMID: 1462042
Review

[Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: a rare example of an integrin deficit]

[Article in Italian]
P Perutelli et al. Recenti Prog Med. 1992 Oct.

Abstract

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive life-long bleeding disorder, originated from a quantitative or qualitative defect of the major platelet membrane receptor: the GPIIb/IIIa complex. The GPIIb/IIIa complex is a calcium-dependent heterodimer, belonging to the integrin superfamily. The complex of activated platelets can bind fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, fibronectin and vitronectin, which are proteins playing an important role in platelet adhesion and aggregation. Thrombasthenic platelets are deficient in GPIIb, GPIIIa and GPIIb/IIIa complex; however, platelets from few thrombasthenic patients content near-normal amounts of functionally abnormal complex. The GPIIb/IIIa quantitative or functional defect leads to defective platelet hemostatic plug formation. Hemorrhagic symptoms consist of purpura, gingival hemorrhage, menorrhagia and epistaxis. Some cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia have been characterized at the molecular genetic level. Molecular abnormalities include: GPIIb or GPIIIa partial gene deletion, GPIIIa gene insertion, a point mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution within the GPIIIa molecule. In spite of the contemporary reduction of both GPIIb and GPIIIa in most cases of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, it appears that a molecular abnormality affecting only one of the glycoprotein genes may result in a thrombasthenic phenotype.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles