Platelet counts in three racial groups.

Documented differences exist in red blood cell (RBC) and granulocyte counts between black and white people. However, little comparative information is available on differences in platelet counts in the two racial groups. Therefore, this study was performed to compare platelet counts in healthy white (94), black (92), and Latin-American (63) persons. Black women had significantly higher platelet counts than did white women (P less than 0.025). Latin-American women were between the other two groups. No differences were noted among men. Black women also had a significantly higher prevalence of iron deficiency and microcytosis of RBCs than did white women. After exclusion of women with either microcytosis or iron deficiency, racial differences in platelet counts were no longer evident. The authors conclude that the differences in the platelet counts between black and white women were secondary to common RBC differences (such as iron deficiency and other causes of microcytic anemia) and were not intrinsic to the platelets. These and other factors that can affect platelet counts should be excluded before determining the reference ranges for proper interpretation of the platelet counts.

Immunoblastic sarcoma in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-like disorders.

Five patients, predominantly older men, had abnormal immune states for prolonged periods of time with manifestations of multisystem involvement, including features of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome. In the course of their disease, all had malignant lymphoma (immunoblastic sarcoma) develop. The development of lymphoma was associated with generalized lymphadenopathy in four cases.

Von Willebrand disease San Diego, a new variant.

A reduced level of factor XII has been observed in 9 of 39 patients with von Willebrand's disease. This apparent common variant of von Willebrand's disease has not previously been described, and its significance is not known.

Immunoblastic sarcoma: a clinical description.

We reviewed the clinical records of 33 patients with Immunoblastic Sarcoma in order to further describe this disease clinically. Several common features were found. Thirty percent of the patients had a history of a prior immune disease or lymphoproliferative malignancy. Forty-four percent of the patients tested had a diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia. Lymphopenia (less than 1,000/mm3) was found in 45%, and anemia occurred in 73%. At initial presentation, 30% of the cases were clinically staged as either stage I or II, whereas 70% were found to be stage III or IV. Forty-nine percent of the patients had systemic symptoms at presentation. The median survival was 14 months. Advanced stage of disease, lymphopenia, and presence of systemic symptomatology were associated with significantly decreased survival times (p less than .05). We conclude that IBS is a clinical entity often associated with prior immune disease and/or diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia.