Platelet Recruitment during Multiple Donor Platelet Apheresis Differs between Cell Separators

doi:10.1159/000328634

Transfus Med Hemother. 2011 June; 38(3): 195–198.

Published online 2011 May 11. doi: 10.1159/000328634

PMCID: PMC3128152

Platelet Recruitment during Multiple Donor Platelet Apheresis Differs between Cell Separators

Stefano Fontana,^a^* Peter Keller,^b and Behrouz Mansouri Taleghani^b

^aBlood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

^bDepartment of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland

*Dr. Stefano Fontana, Blood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, Murtenstrasse 133, 3008 Bern, Switzerland, Tel. +41 31 384-23 23, Fax -23, Email: stefano.fontana/at/bsd-be.ch

Received November 11, 2010; Accepted February 22, 2011.

Abstract

Summary

Background

Recruitment of platelets (PLT) during donor PLT apheresis may facilitate the harvest of multiple units within a single donation.

Methods

We compared two PLT apheresis procedures (Amicus and Trima Accel) in a prospective, randomized, paired cross-over study in 60 donors. The 120 donations were compared for depletion of circulating PLT in the donors, PLT yields and PLT recruitment. A recruitment was defined as ratio of total PLT yield and donor PLT depletion > 1.

Results

Despite comparable differences of pre- and post-apheresis PLT counts (87 × 10⁹/l in Trima Accel vs. 92 × 10⁹/l in Amicus, p = 0.383), PLT yields were higher with Trima Accel (7.48 × 10¹¹ vs. 6.06 × 10¹¹, p < 0.001), corresponding to a higher PLT recruitment (1.90 vs. 1.42, p < 0.001). We observed a different increase of WBC counts after aphereses, which was more pronounced with Trima Accel than with Amicus (1.30 × 10⁹/l vs. 0.46 × 10⁹/l, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Both procedures induced PLT recruitment. This was higher in Trima Accel, contributing to a higher yield in spite of a comparable depletion of circulating PLT in the donors. This recruitment facilitates the harvest of multiple units within a single donation and seems to be influenced by the procedure utilized. The different increases of circulating donor white blood cells after donation need further investigation.

Keywords: Platelet apheresis, Platelet recruitment, Cell separator

Articles from Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy are provided here courtesy of
Karger Publishers