A. Schuh et al., Prevention of worsening of severe thrombocytopenia after red cell transfusions by the use of leucocyte-depleted blood, BR J HAEM, 108(2), 2000, pp. 455-457
Platelet counts were measured before and after red cell transfusions in 30
patients with anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia resulting from haematolog
ical diseases. There was a mean reduction of 1.1 x 10(9)/l (P = 0.43) in th
e platelet count after transfusions of 2-3 units of leucocyte-depleted red
cell concentrates (20 patients). However, there was a mean reduction of 2.7
x 10(9)/l (P = 0.03), approximate to 10%, in the platelet count after tran
sfusions of non-leucocyte-depleted red cell concentrates (10 patients). The
findings suggest that the forthcoming introduction of universal leucocyte
depletion of red cell concentrates will minimize the worsening of thrombocy
topenia that occurs in severely thrombocytopenic patients receiving standar
d non-leucocyte-depleted red cell concentrates.