Storage of platelet concentrates at 4 degrees C

Under current blood-banking practices, platelet concentrates (PC) can be st ored for 5 days from 20 degrees to 24 degrees C. The storage life is essent ially limited because storage to 22 degrees C leads to an increase in the r isk of bacterial contamination and to unacceptable lesions of platelets. Th erefore, there is considerable interest in developing methods to improve st orage conditions. In the past, platelet storage at 4 degrees C has been ext ensively studied. The advantages of the refrigerated temperature included a n inhibition of the growth of bacterial contaminants and a reduction of met abolic rates which reduce the deleterious effects observed with the storage of platelets at room temperature. Unfortunately, a rapid loss of in vitro functional activity and in vivo viability was observed at 4 degrees C. This report summarizes storage lesions of PC at 4 degrees C, and evaluates the effects of a new solution (thrombosol) made up of second messenger effector s. Thrombosol provides a protective effect against in vitro platelet storag e lesions and cold-induced activation. Treated platelets stored at 4 degree s C displayed significantly greater recovery of in vitro activity than did control platelets stored at 22 degrees C. This is a strong basis that suppl ementation of platelet concentrates with thrombosol might allow the storage of PC at 4 degrees C. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevie r SAS.