Slide platelet aggregation time (SPAT) does not correlate with bleeding time (BT) in patients with renal failure undergoing biopsy.
ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
J Am Soc Nephrol (Sep) 8:146A 1997
Bleeding time (BT), as an overall test of platelet function, is commonly done prior to renal biopsy, particularly in the setting of azotemia. A new technique, slide platelet aggregation time (SPAT) measures the patient's platelet aggregation in vitro, on a prepared slide, and is cheaper than the bleeding time and is replacing BT in many hospitals. The authors prospectively compared both methods in 25 renal biopsy patients, 14 of whom had renal insufficiency (degree not given). All had normal SPAT, while 6 had abnormal BT; these 6 all had SCr > 6 mg/dl, 3 of whom corrected BT with DDAVP. BT, but not SPAT, was correlated with SCr.
Comment: This abstract highlights an axiom of nephrology: tests which may work fine with normal renal function need to be validated in CRF. There is no a priori reason why the SPAT should be falsely normal in CRF, but it is, so caveat emptor concerning any new test, regardless of its purported benefits. (James A. Sondheimer MD, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI)
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ASN 30th Annual Meeting, San Antonio
Proteinuria/Hematuria : Renal biopsy techniques, tips, complications