Platelet activation in patients with myeloproliferative disorders is often suggested by increased platelet alpha-granule secretion and an acquired storage pool defect of dense granules. To determine whether activated platelets circulate in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders, we evaluated the binding of monoclonal antibodies against activation-dependent epitopes on resting platelets (P 12, CD 63, and CD 62) in 12 patients with prominent megakaryocytic proliferation (8 patients with essential thrombocythemia, 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia, and 2 patients with polycythemia rubra vera). In addition, platelet aggregation in response to collagen, adenosine diphosphate, platelet activating factor, and agglutination with ristocetin was investigated. In 3 patients there was an increased percentage of platelets binding at least 1 activation marker. In 2 other patients, a trend towards increased antibody binding was observed. Binding of the antibody to thrombospondin (P 12) was related to expression of the GMP 140 protein (CD 62, r = 0.76, p = 0.004). There was no correlation of platelet aggregation defects in vitro to increased expression of platelet activation markers or to thrombohaemorrhagic complications. However, circulating activated platelets were detected in three out of five patients with a history of bleeding or thrombotic complications. The results of this preliminary study suggest that some but not all patients with myeloproliferative disorders showed increased amounts of circulating activated platelets. The relation of bleeding and thrombotic complications to the expression of activation-dependent epitopes on platelets in myeloproliferative disorders requires further investigation.