EFFECT OF PREINCUBATION AT 37-DEGREES-C OF PLATELET CONCENTRATES ON THE POSTTRANSFUSION PLATELET-ADHESION CAPACITY TO COLLAGEN AND FIBRINOGEN

The effect of warming (37 degrees C) of stored platelet concentrates ( PC) on the post-transfusion platelet function as measured by the adhes ion capacity in a rectangular perfusion system under flow conditions w as analyzed in 22 patients undergoing transfusion for stable thrombocy topenia. Nine patients received a PC stored at 22 degrees C and incuba ted at 37 degrees C for 1 h before transfusion, 10 patients received a non-warmed PC, 3 patients received both a pre-warmed and a non-warmed PC. In the PC the platelet adhesion capacity to collagen was higher i n the pre-warmed PC than in the non-warmed PC (33 +/- 5.9% coverage vs . 22 +/- 4.7% coverage, respectively, in a selected group with the sam e platelet concentration). The adhesion capacity to collagen of the pl atelets in the patient's blood, measured 10 min after transfusion, had increased considerably in both patient groups and 4 h later the adhes ion capacity in both patient groups was similar to that of the pre-war med PC before transfusion. We conclude that though pre-warming of stor ed PC had a beneficial effect on the adhesion capacity to collagen of the platelets in the PC, the clinical significance is questionable bec ause already 10 min after transfusion the adhesion capacity to collage n of stored non-warmed platelets had improved to the level of the pre- warmed platelets and 4 h after transfusion this improvement was still present.