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Patients with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia are at an increased risk for hemorrhage and alloimmunization to platelets. Updated guidance for optimizing platelet transfusion therapy is needed as data from recent pivotal trials have the potential to change practice. This guideline, developed by a large international panel using a systematic search strategy and standardized methods to develop recommendations, incorporates recent trials not available when previous guidelines were developed. We found that prophylactic platelet transfusion for platelet counts less than or equal to 10 × 10 9 /L is the optimal approach to decrease the risk of hemorrhage for patients requiring chemotherapy or undergoing allogeneic or autologous transplantation. A low dose of platelets (1.41 × 10 11 /m 2 ) is hemostatically as effective as higher dose of platelets but requires more frequent platelet transfusions suggesting that low-dose platelets may be used in hospitalized patients. For outpatients, a median dose (2.4 × 10 11 /m 2 ) may be more cost-effective to prevent clinic visits only to receive a transfusion. In terms of platelet products, whole blood–derived platelet concentrates can be used interchangeably with apheresis platelets, and ABO-compatible platelet should be given to improve platelet increments and decrease the rate of refractoriness to platelet transfusion. For RhD-negative female children or women of child-bearing potential who have received RhD-positive platelets, Rh immunoglobulin should probably be given to prevent immunization to the RhD antigen. Providing platelet support for the alloimmunized refractory patients with ABO-matched and HLA-selected or crossmatched products is of some benefit, yet the degree of benefit needs to be assessed in the era of leukoreduction.

A literature review was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) cryopreserved platelets for potential military use. In vivo DMSO cryopreserved platelet studies published between 1972 and June of 2013 were reviewed. Assessed were the methods of cryopreservation, posttransfusion platelet responses, prevention or control of bleeding, and adverse events. Using the Department of Defense's preferred 6% DMSO cryopreservation method with centrifugation to remove the DMSO plasma before freezing at -65°C and no postthaw wash, mean radiolabeled platelet recoveries in 32 normal subjects were 33% ± 10% (52% ± 12% of the same subject's fresh platelet recoveries), and survivals were 7.5 ± 1.2 days (89% ± 15% of fresh platelet survivals). Using a variety of methods to freeze autologous platelets from 178 normal subjects, mean radiolabeled platelet recoveries were consistently 39% ± 9%, and survivals, 7.4 ± 1.4 days. More than 3000 cryopreserved platelet transfusions were given to 1334 patients. There were 19 hematology/oncology patient studies, and, in 9, mean 1-hour corrected count increments were 11 100 ± 3600 (range, 5700-15 800) after cryopreserved autologous platelet transfusions. In 5 studies, bleeding times improved after transfusion; in 3, there was either no improvement or a variable response. In 4 studies, there was immediate cessation of bleeding after transfusion; in 3 studies, patients being supported only with cryopreserved platelets had no bleeding. In 1 cardiopulmonary bypass study, cryopreserved platelets resulted in significantly less bleeding vs standard platelets. In 3 trauma studies, cryopreserved platelets were hemostatically effective. No significant adverse events were reported in any study. In summary, cryopreserved platelets have platelet recoveries that are about half of fresh platelets, but survivals are only minimally reduced. The platelets appear hemostatically effective and have no significant adverse events.

Platelets are lost from circulation by 2 mechanisms: senescence and random loss. Approximately 7.1 x 10(3) platelets/microL/d are postulated to be randomly used in maintaining vascular integrity. Thus, in clinically stable patients, major bleeding is unusual unless the platelet count is

Bone marrow transplantation has prolonged the lives of a significant percentage of patients with a variety of both malignant and nonmalignant disorders. However, the impact of this treatment on a transfusion service is substantial. Large numbers of often specialized blood products are required to support these patients, and the logistics of accomplishing this taxes the ingenuity and resources of even large regional blood programs.