Clinical and Research Methods for Analysis and Study of Platelet Populations.

Blood platelets are crucial in hemostasis, thrombosis and thrombo-inflammation. Current evidence highlights the considerable heterogeneity within subjects 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.