INHERITED GIANT PLATELET DISORDERS

Giant platelet disorders (GPD) refer to rare, usually inherited states characterized by abnormally large platelets, thrombocytopenia and ble eding tendency of variable severity. This review summarizes major clin ical and laboratory features of three GPDs (Bernard-Soulier syndrome, May-Hegglin anomaly and gray platelet syndrome). Differential diagnosi s between immunological thrombocytopenia and GPDs is important. Althou gh rare, giant platelet disorders should be borne in mind, since bleed ing tendency in some individuals may be severe and knowledge of bleedi ng diathesis is of importance before delivery or surgical procedures a lso in less symptomatic individuals.