Vitamin E deficiency and platelet functional defect in a jaundiced infant.

A 16-month-old infant with hepatic fibrosis, cholestasis, and chronic jaundice had signs of vitamin E deficiency, including mild acanthocytosis, thrombocytosis, increased peroxide haemolysis, and absent serum vitamin E. Abormal prothrombin consumption and platelet restocetin aggregation suggested the presence of defective platelet function, and correction studies indicated that this was due to a plasma defect. The abnormality was corrected by treatment with vitamin E, and the findings suggest a possible role of this vitamin in platelet reactions.