Ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation

The ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) is an ex vivo assay for live platelet function. It measures platelet aggregation with the help of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and exogenous antibiotic ristocetin added in a graded fashion[1] used to diagnose von Willebrand disease (vWD). It is similar to the ristocetin cofactor activity but has the added benefit in that it can diagnose type 2B vWD and Bernard-Soulier syndrome because it uses patient's live endogenous platelets, whereas Ristocetin Cofactor Assay tests the function of only the vWF and not the platelets. Riscocetin cofactor assay uses platelet-poor plasma (with vWF but no platelets) and adds ristocetin and exogenous formalin-fixed platelets which can passively agglutinate (but not actively "aggregate", as they are dead).

In an unknown fashion, the antibiotic ristocetin causes von Willebrand factor to bind the platelet receptor glycoprotein Ib (GpIb), so when ristocetin is added to normal blood, it causes agglutination of fixed platelets or initiates the initial agglutination phase of aggregation of live platelets. In von Willebrand disease, where von Willebrand factor is absent or defective, abnormal agglutination occurs:

References

  1. ↑ Coller BS, Gralnick HR (August 1977). "Studies on the mechanism of ristocetin-induced platelet adhesion. Effects of structural modification of ristocetin and vancomycin". The Journal of Clinical Investigation 60 (2): 302–12. doi:10.1172/JCI108778. PMC 372370. PMID 17620.
  2. ↑ Riddell AF, Jenkins PV, Nitu-Whalley IC, McCraw AH, Lee CA, Brown, SA (January 2002). "Use of the collagen-binding assay for von Willebrand factor in the analysis of type 2M von Willebrand disease: a comparison with the ristocetin cofactor assay". British Journal of Haematology 116 (1): 187–92. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03199.x. PMID 11841416.