Platelet Clearance: Mechanisms, Disorders, and Therapeutic Implications.

Platelets are a critical, cellular component of thrombosis and hemostasis. Too few platelets can lead to increased bleeding events, seen in conditions like immune thrombocytopenia. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which platelets are cleared from the body leads to strategies to maintain platelets in circulation, supplement patients with platelets through transfusions, or induce platelet production in vivo. Here, we discuss 2 major platelet clearance mechanisms, glycan recognition by hepatocytes and apoptosis, and how they can be modulated to improve patient outcomes.