Since the publication of the proceedings of the Henry Ford Hospital Symposium on Blood Platelets in 1960 much has been accomplished in research on various aspects of platelet structure and function. Marcus and Zucker have drawn from their extensive experience, culled the current literature, and summarized succinctly and expertly many facets of platelet research. The monograph is carefully documented using 875 up-to-date references.
The text is divided into 13 chapters; the topics include biochemistry, electron microscopy, aggregation-retraction-adhesion, release reaction and viscous metamorphosis, thrombopoiesis, survival, transfusion and perservation, and the various disorders involving the platelets.
Because of the large amount of material covered, little space can be given to a critical evaluation of methodology or to comments on published papers reporting divergent results. It is left to the interested reader to review the pertinent references. For some, this may be fine and they may be able to form their own conclusions.