PLATELET SUBSTITUTION IN HEMATOLOGIC-ONCOLOGIC PATIENTS WITH ONLY ONEOR FEW HLA ANTIBODIES

Objective: To define retrospectively the number of hematologic-oncolog ic patients who undergo platelet substitution therapy and who develop only one or few HLA antibodies over a longer period of time, as well a s to determine the corresponding antigens and to evaluate the substitu tion principle applied: preparations from whole blood lacking the corr esponding antigens. Patients and Methods: Sera of 718 hematologic-onco logic patients were tested after platelet transfusions by means of pla telet immunofluorescence and lymphocytotoxicity testing. Results: Long -term single HLA antibodies were detected in approximately 5% of the p atients. Transfusion responses to preparations lacking the correspondi ng antigens were comparable to random substitution in patients without detectable HLA antibodies as well as to compatible substitution in pa tients with antibodies. Conclusions: Provided that regular antibody sc reening is carried out and a large pool of HLA-typed donors is availab le, patients with few HLA antibodies can effectively be substituted wi th platelets obtained by whole-blood donation from donors lacking the corresponding antigens.