TRANSFUSING PLATELETS 2H AFTER THE COMPLETION OF AMPHOTERICIN-B DECREASES ITS DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON TRANSFUSED PLATELET RECOVERY AND SURVIVAL

Platelet transfusion support is required during bone marrow aplasia fo llowing ablative chemotherapy and bone marrow progenitor cell transpla ntation (BMT). Amphotericin-B is frequently given to these patients, b oth therapeutically and prophylactically, and has been described to ha ve a negative impact on the results of platelet transfusions. We condu cted a prospective study of the effect of amphotericin-B on transfused platelet recovery and survival in 81 BMT or acute leukaemia patients. One hundred and ninety-five platelet transfusions administered to 81 consecutive patients were analysed. The platelets were transfused 2 h after the completion of amphstericin-B. Using this schedule resulted i n no effect of amphotericin-B on platelet recovery or survival, althou gh platelet increments were modestly depressed in patients receiving h igh-vs. low-dose amphotericin-B. We conclude that the timing of amphot ericin-B infusion be evaluated in patients demonstrating poor platelet recovery and survival. Transfusing platelets at least 2 h after the c ompletion of amphotericin-B decreases the detrimental effect of this a ntifungal agent on transfused platelet recovery and survival.