Gray platelet syndrome is a bleeding disorder associated with abnormal platelets, which are small blood cells involved in blood clotting. People with this condition tend to bruise easily and have an increased risk of nosebleeds (epistaxis). They may also experience abnormally heavy or extended bleeding following surgery, dental work, or minor trauma. Women with gray platelet syndrome often have irregular, heavy periods (menometrorrhagia). These bleeding problems are usually mild to moderate, but they have been life-threatening in a few affected individuals.

A condition called myelofibrosis, which is a buildup of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the bone marrow, is another common feature of gray platelet syndrome. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue in the center of long bones that produces most of the blood cells the body needs, including platelets. The scarring associated with myelofibrosis damages bone marrow, preventing it from making enough blood cells. Other organs, particularly the spleen, start producing more blood cells to compensate; this process often leads to an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).

Gray platelet syndrome appears to be a rare disorder. About 60 cases have been reported worldwide.

Gray platelet syndrome can be caused by mutations in the NBEAL2 gene. Little is known about the protein produced from this gene. It appears to play a role in the formation of alpha-granules, which are sacs inside platelets that contain growth factors and other proteins that are important for blood clotting and wound healing. In response to an injury that causes bleeding, the proteins stored in alpha-granules help platelets stick to one another to form a plug that seals off damaged blood vessels and prevents further blood loss.

Mutations in the NBEAL2 gene disrupt the normal production of alpha-granules. Without alpha-granules, platelets are unusually large and fewer in number than usual (macrothrombocytopenia). The abnormal platelets also appear gray when viewed under a microscope, which gives this condition its name. A lack of alpha-granules impairs the normal activity of platelets during blood clotting, increasing the risk of abnormal bleeding. Myelofibrosis is thought to occur because the growth factors and other proteins that are normally packaged into alpha-granules leak out into the bone marrow. The proteins lead to fibrosis that affects the bone marrow's ability to make new blood cells.

Some people with gray platelet syndrome do not have an identified mutation in the NBEAL2 gene. In these individuals, the cause of the condition is unknown.

Genetic Testing Information

• Genetic Testing Registry: Gray platelet syndrome

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

• Gray platelet syndrome

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

• GRAY PLATELET SYNDROME; GPS

Scientific Articles on PubMed

• PubMed

• Albers CA, Cvejic A, Favier R, Bouwmans EE, Alessi MC, Bertone P, Jordan G, Kettleborough RN, Kiddle G, Kostadima M, Read RJ, Sipos B, Sivapalaratnam S, Smethurst PA, Stephens J, Voss K, Nurden A, Rendon A, Nurden P, Ouwehand WH. Exome sequencing identifies NBEAL2 as the causative gene for gray platelet syndrome. Nat Genet. 2011 Jul 17;43(8):735-7. doi: 10.1038/ng.885. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Bottega R, Pecci A, De Candia E, Pujol-Moix N, Heller PG, Noris P, De Rocco D, Podda GM, Glembotsky AC, Cattaneo M, Balduini CL, Savoia A. Correlation between platelet phenotype and NBEAL2 genotype in patients with congenital thrombocytopenia and alpha-granule deficiency. Haematologica. 2013 Jun;98(6):868-74. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2012.075861. Epub 2012 Oct 25. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Gunay-Aygun M, Falik-Zaccai TC, Vilboux T, Zivony-Elboum Y, Gumruk F, Cetin M, Khayat M, Boerkoel CF, Kfir N, Huang Y, Maynard D, Dorward H, Berger K, Kleta R, Anikster Y, Arat M, Freiberg AS, Kehrel BE, Jurk K, Cruz P, Mullikin JC, White JG, Huizing M, Gahl WA. NBEAL2 is mutated in gray platelet syndrome and is required for biogenesis of platelet alpha-granules. Nat Genet. 2011 Jul 17;43(8):732-4. doi: 10.1038/ng.883. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Gunay-Aygun M, Zivony-Elboum Y, Gumruk F, Geiger D, Cetin M, Khayat M, Kleta R, Kfir N, Anikster Y, Chezar J, Arcos-Burgos M, Shalata A, Stanescu H, Manaster J, Arat M, Edwards H, Freiberg AS, Hart PS, Riney LC, Patzel K, Tanpaiboon P, Markello T, Huizing M, Maric I, Horne M, Kehrel BE, Jurk K, Hansen NF, Cherukuri PF, Jones M, Cruz P, Mullikin JC, Nurden A, White JG, Gahl WA, Falik-Zaccai T. Gray platelet syndrome: natural history of a large patient cohort and locus assignment to chromosome 3p. Blood. 2010 Dec 2;116(23):4990-5001. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-05-286534. Epub 2010 Aug 13. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Kahr WH, Hinckley J, Li L, Schwertz H, Christensen H, Rowley JW, Pluthero FG, Urban D, Fabbro S, Nixon B, Gadzinski R, Storck M, Wang K, Ryu GY, Jobe SM, Schutte BC, Moseley J, Loughran NB, Parkinson J, Weyrich AS, Di Paola J. Mutations in NBEAL2, encoding a BEACH protein, cause gray platelet syndrome. Nat Genet. 2011 Jul 17;43(8):738-40. doi: 10.1038/ng.884. Citation on PubMed