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DNA Down Under

New section on RNA interference as a tool to block virus replication.

• Functional disorders (adhesion, aggregation, secretion)
• Very rare
• Only once laboratory testing has eliminated all else do we settle for this
• Perform a blood smear from blood without an anticoagulant and look for clumping
• BT - normal reflects good function
• Perform platelet aggregation studies
• Bernard Soulier Syndrome
  Autosomal recessive, lifelong bleeding disorder
  Epistaxis, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, menorrhagia, easy bruising and excess bleeding following trauma
  Lack portions of the platelet membrane (eg GP Ib) which prevents interaction of platelets with vWF and subsequent adhesion to collagen
  Platelet count is normal to decreased
  BT is prolonged (relative to the slight decrease in platelets)
  Platelet aggregation test abnormal / Ristocetin abnormal