APYRASE, ASCORBIC-ACID AND APROTININ AMELIORATE THE STORAGE LESION INPELLETED PLATELET PREPARATIONS

To evaluate the effect of apyrase, ascorbic acid and aprotinin (AAA) i n preventing platelet activation during storage, 12 sets of platelet c oncentrates (PCs), were treated with AAA and evaluated at days 1, 3, a nd 5 utilizing platelet functional and morphological assays. Platelets treated with AAA demonstrated significantly enhanced response to ADP- induced platelet aggregation, higher morphology scores, and elevated A TP levels compared to control samples after 5 days of storage. Similar ly, platelet specimens treated with AAA had significantly reduced PF4 secretion and P-selectin expression compared to controls. Finally, Wes tern blots of aggregated platelets at day 5 demonstrated that AAA-trea ted PCs continue to express the platelet membrane GPIb whereas specime ns from control PCs do not. These results show that PCs treated with A AA have reduced platelet activation and enhanced functional platelet a ctivity.