GP1BA and autoimmune thrombocytopenia: These findings ultimately may also be relevant to increased understanding of other human diseases (e.g., congenital platelet disorders, cardiovascular disease, stroke, autoimmune thrombocytopenia) and/or surgical procedures (e.g., circulatory support devices, splenectomy) where expression/function of platelet-specific receptors GPIbα/GPVI is compromised and there is concomitant altered haemostatic, thrombotic, inflammatory, and/or immune risk.