Kinetics and quantification of the sites of destruction of In-111-oxine labelled autologous platelets was investigated in eight patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The mean platelet count was 17 9 × 109/l; platelets were separated by differential centrifugation and labelled with 5,6 ±2,5 MBq In-111. Whole body and organ In-111-platelet distribution was quantitated with a scintillation camera and a computer assisted imaging system acquisition matrix. Areas of interest were selected with the computer and organ In-111-radioactivity expressed as a percentage of whole body activity. Mean platelet survival was 49,5+29,6h, and the survival curves exponential. Equilibrium percentage organ In-111-radioactivity was (normal values in parenthesis): spleen 33,7±8,8 (31,1 ± 10,2); liver 16,1 ± 9,5 (13,1 ± 1,3); thorax 22,8 ± 3,7 (28,8 ± 5,6). Percentage organ In-111-activity at the time when labelled platelets had been removed from the circulation was: spleen 44,5 ± 16,4 (40 ± 16); liver 16,0 ± 11,5 (32,4 ± 7,2); thorax 19,7±6,0 (17,7 ± 10,3). Thorax activity corresponds to radioactivity in the bony cage of the thorax. Three patterns of platelet sequestration were evident. Three patients had mainly splenic sequestration; two, mainly hepatic sequestration; and three, diffuse reticuloendothelial system sequestration with a major component of platelets destroyed in the bone marrow. Splenectomy was performed in two patients. The pattern of In-111-platelet sequestration was not predictive of response to glucocorticoid therapy or indicative of the necessity for splenectomy. Quantitative In-111-labelled autologous platelet kinetic studies provide a new tool for the investigation of platelet disorders.