Jm. Lassauniere et al., PLATELET TRANSFUSIONS IN ADVANCED HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES - A POSITION PAPER, Journal of palliative care, 12(1), 1996, pp. 38-41
Treatment of patients with advanced-stage hematological malignancies (
HM) includes frequent transfusions. Given present limited hospital bud
gets, administrative pressure is increasing on hematology services to
limit the cost of these transfusions. An expert multidisciplinary pane
l involved in hematology formed a working party to draw up a series of
proposals, including definitions of advanced stage disease and the in
dications for platelet transfusion. Their proposals included: (a) Plat
elet transfusions are indicated for the treatment of bleeding caused b
y low platelet counts; (b) Patients should-receive full information, i
ncluding the basic criteria for platelet transfusion; (c) Doctors shou
ld be trained to assess whether or not platelet transfusions are urgen
tly required; and (d) The practice of home transfusions should be enco
uraged.