Megakaryocyte volume and platelet production per nucleus in megakaryocyte disorders

Bone marrow analysis was performed in normal subjects and patients with a variety of hematological conditions: hypoplastic bone marrow states (Hypo), B12 deficiency (B12 def), congestive splenomegaly (Congest), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), chronic inflammation (Inflam), and essential thrombocythemia (ET). Left panel: The amount of megakaryocyte cytoplasm per diploid (2N) amount of nuclear DNA was similar to normal in all of the disorders. Right panel: When the platelet production rate was measured in kinetic studies and then divided by the number of diploid nuclear lobes of the megakaryocyte, the amount of platelets produced per diploid amount of nuclear DNA was normal in all disorders except for hypoplastic marrow states and B12 deficiency in which ineffective thrombopoiesis was present.