Blood platelets are crucial in hemostasis, thrombosis, and thromboinflammation. Current evidence highlights the considerable heterogeneity within individuals in platelet structure, age, and activation properties. This heterogeneity has major implications for the diverse functions of platelets in physiology and pathophysiology, extending to therapeutic targeting in hemostasis and cancer. In this review, we provide a general concept of heterogeneity or diversity of platelet populations, with emphasis on the diagnostic and advanced methodologies to assess and study differences between platelets. We describe conventional and novel approaches to address clinical and in research questions addressing platelet heterogeneity and discuss strengths and limitations of the available techniques.
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PLATELET HETEROGENEITY|
December 11, 2025
Clinical and research methods for analysis and study of platelet populations Available to Purchase
Thomas Thiele,
Thomas Thiele
1Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Johan W. M. Heemskerk,
Johan W. M. Heemskerk
2Synapse Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Andrew L. Frelinger, III
Andrew L. Frelinger, III
3Center for Platelet Research Studies, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
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Blood (2025) 146 (24): 2889–2901.
Article history
Submitted:
June 5, 2025
Accepted:
September 10, 2025
First Edition:
October 7, 2025
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Citation
Thomas Thiele, Johan W. M. Heemskerk, Andrew L. Frelinger; Clinical and research methods for analysis and study of platelet populations. Blood 2025; 146 (24): 2889–2901. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2025028956
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