Transfusion of platelet concentrates.

Although a number of research have been realized in the aim of decreasing t he use of platelet concentrates, these blood products remain absolutely nec essary for patients with therapeutic aplasia and for some surgical patients . After the description of the main rules of platelet transfusion procedures, we will discuss some controversial issues: threshold value for platelet tr ansfusion, platelet doses, place of curative and prophylactic strategies, r efractoriness to platelet transfusion, HLA alloimmunization. Then we will f ocus our review on the future alternatives for platelet transfusion.