THERAPEUTIC EFFECTIVENESS OF FROZEN PLATELET CONCENTRATES FOR TRANSFUSION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (2) , 243-249
Abstract
Six patients received platelet concentrate transfusions from their HLA-identical siblings. Platelet concentrates were administered either fresh or after being frozen in 10% dimethylsulfoxide, at a slow controlled rate (1.degree. C/min) or rapidly (.apprx. 8.degree. C/min) in the vapor-phase of a liquid N refrigerator. The median freeze-thaw loss was 13.5%. The mean 1-h and 20-h corrected increments in platelet count were calculated for fresh platelet concentrates transfused before and after transfusion with controlled-rate frozen and vapor-phase frozen platelet concentrates. There was no significant difference among the 1st and 2nd transfusion of fresh platelet concentrates, nor was the difference observed between fresh and controlled-rate frozen platelet concentrates significant. The difference between fresh and vapor-phase frozen platelet concentrates, and between controlled-rate frozen and vapor-phase frozen platelet concentrates were highly significant (P < 0.01). In vitro tests of aggregation using ristocetin and platelet ultrastructural studies paralleled the transfusion experience. HLA-identical platelet concentrates can apparently be successfully frozen and thawed for transfusion if a slow, controlled rate of freezing is employed. Use of HLA-identical frozen platelet concentrates may be important in emergency situations for the refractory patient and potentially for the establishment of a platelet concentrate bank.