L. Lin et al., PHOTOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF PLATELET CONCENTRATES WITH A NOVEL PSORALEN AND UVA TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF PLATELET TRANSFUSIONS, Infusionstherapie und Transfusionsmedizin, 25(1), 1998, pp. 39-48
Background: To enhance the safety of platelet transfusions, a photoche
mical treatment (PCT) process utilizing a novel psoralen (S-59) in con
junction with long wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA, 320-400 nm), has
been developed for inactivation of viruses and bacteria in platelet c
oncentrates. Materials and Methods: Viral and bacterial stocks of high
infectivity were added to single-donor platelet concentrates containi
ng 3-5 x 10(11) platelets in 300 ml of 35% autologous plasma and 65% p
latelet additive solution (PASIII). For clinical HIV isolates the high
est titered available viral stacks were used. After PCT with S-59 (150
mu M) and UVA (0-3 J/cm(2)), the residual infectivity of viruses and
bacteria was measured with established assays. In vitro platelet funct
ion following PCT with 150 mu M S-59 and 3 J/cm(2) UVA and subsequent
S-59 removal was evaluated during 7 days of storage by a panel of 13 a
ssays Antibodies against PCT platelets and plasma proteins in suspensi
on medium were raised in rabbits to assess whether PCT induces neoanti
gen formation. Results: The following levels of reduction in infectivi
ty of viruses and bacteria were obtained: >10(6.6) pfu/ml of cell-free
and cell-associated HIV-1 (strain IIIB), >10-(3.4) tissue culture inf
ections dose (TCID50)/ml of a clinical isolate of HIV-1, >10(2.5) TCID
50/ml of a clinical isolate of HIV-2, 10(6.8) infectious dose (ID50)/m
l of duck hepatitis B virus, >10(6.5) pfu/ml of bovine viral diarrhea
virus, >10(6.4) pfu/ml of cell-associated human cytomegalovirus, >10(6
.3)-fold reduction of five strains of Gram-positive bacteria, and 10(4
.5)- to >10(6.7)-fold reduction of seven strains of Cram-negative bact
eria. The proviral form of HIV-1(IIIB) was also sensitive to inactivat
ion. In vitro platelet function was not adversely affected following P
CT and S-59 removal during 7 days of storage. In addition, immunologic
al studies have demonstrated the absence of neoantigens following PCT
of platelet concentrates. Conclusion: Photochemical treatment of plate
let concentrates with S-59 and UVA offers the potential to reduce tran
sfusion-related viral and bacterial diseases in transfusion recipients
.