Prevention of worsening of severe thrombocytopenia after red cell transfusions by the use of leucocyte-depleted blood

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.