Background:   CD36 deficiency could lead to CD36 iso-immunization. CD36 iso-antibody has been involved in platelet transfusion refractoriness, post-transfusion purpura, or neonatal immune thrombocytopenia. CD109 carries the biallelic codominant Gov alloantigen system. The relevance of the Gov system was demonstrated by the high incidence of anti-Gov alloantibodies in patients presenting with alloantibody-mediated platelet destruction syndrome. In this study, the frequency of CD36 and CD109 deficiency in Koreans was evaluated. We also investigated the correlation of CD expression level and degree of thromobocytopenia.
Methods:  A total of 180 samples were randomly selected from subjects who requested CBC testing from June 2014 to September 2014. The expression levels of CD36 on platelets and CD109 were analyzed by flowcytometry using FITC-conjugated CD36 antibodies and PE-conjugated CD109 antibodies, respectively.   
Correlation between the median fluorescence intensity of CD36 and CD109 and the number of platelets was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Lacking CD36 on platelets was present in 2.8%. The median fluorescence intensity(MFI) of CD36 did not show correlation with the count of platelets. The deficiency rate of CD109 was 1.4%. It also showed no correlation between MFI and count of platelets. 
Conclusion:  The frequency of CD36 and CD109 dificiency was similar to results from other sutides. Studies to determine exact frequency of CD36 and CD109 deficiency in Koreans, including a larger population, should be conducted, and more case reports on patients immunized against CD36 and CD109 are also needed in order to elucidate the clinical importance and relevance of CD36 and CD109 deficiency testing and the transfusion of CD36-deficient platelets.