Effects of high-yield thrombocytapheresis on the quality of platelet products

Comparison of the platelet activation status of single-donor platelets obtained with two different cell separator technologies

BACKGROUND

The microparticle content (MP%) of apheresis platelets-a marker of platelet activation-is influenced by donor factors and by external stressors during collection and storage. This study assessed the impact of apheresis technology and other factors on the activation status (MP%) of single-donor apheresis platelets.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Data from six US hospitals that screened platelets by measuring MP% through dynamic light scattering (ThromboLUX) were retrospectively analyzed. Relative risks (RRs) were derived from univariate and multivariable regression models, with activation rate (MP% ≥15% for plasma-stored platelets; ≥10% for platelet additive solution [PAS]-stored platelets) and MP% as outcomes. Apheresis platform (Trima Accel vs Amicus), storage medium (plasma vs PAS), pathogen reduction, storage time, and testing location were used as predictors.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 7511 platelet units collected using Trima (from 16 suppliers, all stored in plasma, 20.0% were pathogen-reduced) and 2456 collected using Amicus (from four different collection facilities of one supplier, 65.0% plasma-stored, 35.0% PAS-stored, none pathogen-reduced). Overall, 30.0% of Trima platelets were activated compared to 45.6% of Amicus platelets (P < .0001). Multivariable analysis identified apheresis platform as significantly associated with platelet activation, with a lower activation rate for Trima than Amicus (RR: 0.641, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.578; 0.711, P < .0001) and a 6.901% (95% CI: 5.926; 7.876, P < .0001) absolute reduction in MP%, when adjusting for the other variables.

CONCLUSION

Trima-collected platelets were significantly less likely to be activated than Amicus-collected platelets, irrespective of the storage medium, the use of pathogen reduction, storage time, and testing site.

Clinical efficacy of platelet transfusion therapy in patients with leukemia and analysis of risk factors for ineffective transfusion

Clinical efficacy of platelet transfusion therapy in patients with leukemia was investigated to analyze risk factors for ineffective transfusion. A total of 105 cases of patients with leukemia admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from August 2016 to November 2018 were selected as research subjects. A total of 49 patients received transfusion of apheresis platelet suspension, and were group A. Fifty-six patients who received mixed multi-person platelet suspension were group B. The percentage plate recovery (PPR) and corrected count increment (CCI), interleukin-11 (IL-11) and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130) levels were compared between the two groups, and the correlation of PPR and CCI with serum IL-11 and sgp130 levels was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting ineffective transfusion in patients with leukemia. After transfusion, PPR and CCI in both groups were significantly higher than those before transfusion (P<0.05). IL-11 was significantly increased in both groups after transfusion, and sgp130 was significantly decreased in the two groups after transfusion (P<0.05). Serum IL-11 level in leukemia patients was positively correlated with PPR and CCI (r=0.7693, P<0.001), (r=0.7760, P<0.001), and serum sgp130 level in leukemia patients was negatively correlated with PPR and CCI (r=-0.7086, P<0.001), (r=-0.7733, P<0.001). There were differences between the effective group and the ineffective group in transfusion frequency, fever, infection and splenomegaly (P<0.05). Fever (OR, 0.382; 95% CI, 0.183-0.972) and infection (OR, 0.367; 95% CI, 0.140-0.956) were independent risk factors for ineffective transfusion. In conclusion, apheresis platelet or mixed multi-person platelet suspension transfusion can significantly improve the disorder of platelet count in patients with leukemia, and improve the clinical efficacy. Fever and infection are independent risk factors leading to ineffective transfusion.

Analysis of Donor Safety in High Yield Plateletpheresis Procedures: An Experience from Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

The apheresis platelets are the preferred blood components for the thrombocytopenic hemato-oncology patients. The one of the important factors for post transfusion increment is the dose of the platelet product infused. The minimum platelet product yield is defined but the amount of maximum possible platelets collection from a single donor is not universally defined. There is lots of apprehension in our country for apheresis procedures harvesting more than a standard unit. This retrospective observational study was conducted to determine safety of high yield plateletapheresis collection among Indian donors This retrospective observational study was conducted for a period of 15 months including all consecutive plateletapheresis procedures. The informed consent had been obtained from all donors including high yield plateletapheresis (Yield ≥ 5 × 10¹¹). The apheresis product was subjected to platelet count. The donor adverse reactions were recorded along with procedural details. Post procedure complete blood count was done for the donors who consented for post procedure blood sample draw A total 569 procedures were performed during this period including 174 high yield procedure. The 526 procedures were analyzed for adverse donor reactions. The 43 were excluded for adverse donor reaction analysis due to yield less than 3 × 10¹¹ (n = 43). The adverse reactions rate between high yield procedures (18/174, 10.34%) and normal yield (20/352, 5.68%) were not statistically different (p = 0.052). The phlebotomy related complication (3.23%) followed by citrate toxicity (2.28%) were the two most common adverse reaction observed. The adverse reactions associated with high yield plateletapheresis procedures are comparable to normal yield procedures in term of overall adverse reactions observed and post procedural platelet counts. This can be beneficial to patients by providing products of greater yield.

Double Dose Plateletpheresis: A Savior to Shrinking Donor Pool and Platelet Inventory Management

The double dose plateletpheresis (DDP) is considered to be a cost effective way of preparing platelets, owing to the low incidence of infectious complications and by also minimizing allogeneic donor exposure to the patients. We aimed at collecting DDP at our center and study its effect on donor hematological parameters, evaluate the product quality and the adverse donor reactions thereafter. Double Dose Platelet was collected from 160 eligible apheresis donors on Amicus cell separator (Fenwal, Inc. Three Corporate Drive Lake Zurich, IL, USA). The donor hematological parameters, product yield, adverse effects on the donors, collection efficiency (CE) and collection rate of the machine were noted. A total of 160 DDPs were collected. The total blood volume processed to achieve the yield of 6.0 × 1011 was 3673.5 ± 276.56 mL. The average yield achieved was 6.14 ± 0.26 × 1011. The average run time was 68.05 ± 6.25 min. Total ACD used was 408.33 ± 33.81 mL. We observed significant relation of pre-donation donor platelet count and platelet yield (p < 0.001). The CE was 78.09 ± 5.15%. There was a significant drop in the post DDP platelet count (p < 0.01) causing no adverse effect. Fourteen donors (8.75%) experienced mild citrate related adverse events. DDP does not lead to major adverse effects and post DDP hematological parameters are also within the acceptable range. It also helps to maintain apheresis platelet inventory, reduce donor exposure, reduce donor requirement and reduce the cost of the product.

Transfusion efficacy of apheresis platelet concentrates irradiated at the day of transfusion is significantly superior compared to platelets irradiated in advance

BACKGROUND

Gamma irradiation is currently the standard care to avoid transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Guidelines on gamma irradiation of blood components state that platelets (PLTs) can be irradiated at any stage in their 5-day storage and can thereafter be stored up to their normal shelf life of 5 days after collection. In this study, we explored whether the timing of irradiation has an effect on transfusion efficacy of apheresis PLT concentrates (APCs).

METHODS

Based on the 1-hour percent PLT recovery (PPR1h), transfusion efficacy of 1,000 eligible APCs transfused to 144 children were evaluated retrospectively. PPR1h was compared in transfused APCs irradiated at the day of transfusion and APCs irradiated in advance.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, transfusion efficacy of APCs irradiated in advance was significantly lower than that of APCs irradiated at the day of transfusion (mean PPR1h 27.7 vs. 35.0%; p = 0.007). This was confirmed in multivariate analysis (p = 0.030). Compared to non-irradiated APCs, transfusion efficacy of APCs irradiated at the day of transfusion was not significantly inferior (mean difference -2.8%; 95% CI -6.1 to 0.5%; p = 0.092), but APCs irradiated in advance were clearly less efficient (mean difference -8.1%; 95% CI -12.2 to -4.0%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our data strongly support that APCs should not be irradiated in advance, 1.e., ≥24 h before transfusion.

Platelet Recruitment during Multiple Donor Platelet Apheresis Differs between Cell Separators

SUMMARY: BACKGROUND: Recruitment of platelets (PLT) during donor PLT apheresis may facilitate the harvest of multiple units within a single donation. METHODS: We compared two PLT apheresis procedures (Amicus and Trima Accel) in a prospective, randomized, paired cross-over study in 60 donors. The 120 donations were compared for depletion of circulating PLT in the donors, PLT yields and PLT recruitment. A recruitment was defined as ratio of total PLT yield and donor PLT depletion > 1. RESULTS: Despite comparable differences of pre- and post-apheresis PLT counts (87 × 10(9)/l in Trima Accel vs. 92 × 10(9)/l in Amicus, p = 0.383), PLT yields were higher with Trima Accel (7.48 × 10(11) vs. 6.06 × 10(11), p < 0.001), corresponding to a higher PLT recruitment (1.90 vs. 1.42, p < 0.001). We observed a different increase of WBC counts after aphereses, which was more pronounced with Trima Accel than with Amicus (1.30 × 10(9)/l vs. 0.46 × 10(9)/l, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both procedures induced PLT recruitment. This was higher in Trima Accel, contributing to a higher yield in spite of a comparable depletion of circulating PLT in the donors. This recruitment facilitates the harvest of multiple units within a single donation and seems to be influenced by the procedure utilized. The different increases of circulating donor white blood cells after donation need further investigation.

High concentration plasma-reduced plateletapheresis concentrates

Single-donor hyperconcentrated plateletapheresis (dry-platelets) collection has been introduced in the 90's as a part of the newly developed multi-component collection strategy. This approach allowed to safely collect multiple components from a single apheresis donation, i.e. RBC, FFP and/or plateletpheresis units. Dry-platelets are usually resuspended in additive solution to maintain an adequate pH during the storage period until use. Some concern existed about possible higher degrees of platelet activation in dry-platelets units when compared to standard concentration (1.0-1.6 × 10(6)/μL platelets) units and its possible correlation with lower in vivo efficiency and/or survival of the former units. Several authors investigated this specific issue, and dry-platelets units proved to be equally effective than standard concentration plateletpheresis units in recipients. The use of dry-platelets units may reduce (i) the risk of passive infusion of naturally occurring ABO-related hemolytic antibodies when donor O platelets are given to group A, B, or AB recipient, (ii) the risk of TRALI when multiparous donors undergo plateletpheresis. Furthermore, dry-platelet collection may allow for an increased amount of FFP sent to industry. Finally, hyperconcentrated platelet units may be used for "niche" indications, such as intrauterine platelet transfusion or, in case of autologous dry-platelet collection, for further freezing for long term storage in selected patients within onco-hematological settings.

A systematic assessment of the quality of reporting for platelet transfusion studies

BACKGROUND

As evidence-based medicine assumes increasing importance, there is a need for high-quality reporting of clinical studies. A recent review of clinical platelet (PLT) studies indicated variability in reporting. We undertook a critical analysis of PLT transfusion studies to determine the quality of reporting.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A systematic MEDLINE search for clinical studies of PLT transfusion was performed to identify articles. Relevant observational studies (OBS) were critiqued using the STROBE checklist and randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) using the CONSORT checklist. Studies were further evaluated with a PLT-specific checklist developed by the authors. Observations were analyzed descriptively and using Pareto analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 772 articles were identified by the search. Eighty-six articles (23 RCTs and 63 OBS) met eligibility criteria. All RCTs, and a similar number of OBS (24), were randomly selected for analysis. Studies reported the scientific background and rationale, key results, and outcomes. OBS frequently did not consider bias and confounders. RCTs frequently did not explain bias, interim analyses, stopping rules, success of blinding, or weaknesses of multiple analyses. The PLT-specific critique found many studies adequately reported basics of the PLT product, PLT increment, and transfusion reactions. Studies frequently failed to report specific details of PLT compatibility, details of product preparation, and use of other blood products.

CONCLUSION

Recently published articles of clinical PLT transfusion share common strengths and weaknesses. The quality of reporting may be improved by providing guidelines to authors and journal editors that list the essential elements of a well-reported clinical study of PLT transfusion.