DELAYED ALLOIMMUNISATION BY RANDOM SINGLE DONOR PLATELET TRANSFUSIONS A Randomised Study to Compare Single Donor and Multiple Donor Platelet Transfusions in Cancer Patients with Severe Thrombocytopenia

Restriction of the number of donors per transfusion may postpone the development of refractoriness to random-donor platelet transfusions in thrombocytopenic patients.

Abstract

The effects of single-donor (SD) and multiple-donor (MD) platelet transfusions in 34 cancer patients with severe thrombocytopenia and haemorrhages were compared in a randomised study. Platelet recovery values in both groups were similar after the first transfusion. After the second transfusion platelet recovery values were significantly better in those receiving SD transfusions. Platelet recovery values gradually declined with subsequent MD transfusions. These results suggest early alloimmunisation in the MD transfused patients only. MD transfusions were estimated to be no longer effective after about nine transfusions. Platelet recovery values were better indicators of early sensitisation than was the lymphocytotoxicity test. Restriction of the number of donors per transfusion may postpone the development of refractoriness to random-donor platelet transfusions in thrombocytopenic patients.