INFLUENCE OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON THE QUA LITY AND STORABILITY OF PLATELETS

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare, but Iife-threatening complication of blood transfusion. It can be prev ented by irradiation of blood components. It has been shown that the s tability of red cells is decreased after irradiation. We therefore wan ted to determine whether irradiation induces membrane glycoprotein alt eration of platelets or decreases the stability of platelet concentrat es. Ten platelet concentrates were produced by standard procedures and aliquoted; one of each pair was irradiated with 30 Gy before storage. Both aliquots were stored for 5 days, and GP Ib: GMP 140 (by flow cyt ometry) as well as LDH, pH, P-thromboglobulin, and PF4 were determined at days 1, 3 and 5. During storage a loss of GP Ib of about 25 %, an increase of GMP 140 (50 %) and LDH (30%) was observed. No difference b etween irradiated and nonirradiated platelet concentrates was found. O ur data suggest that irradiation with 30 Gy has no significant influen ce on the quality of platelet concentrates.