Effects of platelet concentrate storage time reduction in patients after blood stem cell transplantation

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions after PC storage time reduction to 4days. Patients and Methods This was a single-centre cohort study comparing two 3-month periods of time, before and after the reduction of PC storage time from 5 to 4days. Seventy-seven consecutive patients with PC transfusions were enrolled after blood stem cell transplantation. Corrected platelet count increment (CCI) on the morning after transfusion, time to next platelet transfusion, need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and clinical bleeding symptoms were compared. Results Platelet concentrate storage time was reduced between period 1 (storage for up to 5days, median storage time 78h, range 11-136h) and period 2 (storage for up to 4days, median storage time 53h, range 11-112h). Patients were comparable for age, weight, body surface area, underlying disorder, type of transplantation and transfused platelet dose. The CCI increased from a median of 4 (range 0-20) to 8 (0-68)x109/l per 1011 platelets/m2 (P<0 center dot 0001). Time to next PC transfusion increased from 1 center dot 1 to 2 center dot 0days (P<0 center dot 0001). Any bleeding symptom was noted in 20 of 36 patients (56%) vs. 9/41 patients (22%, P<0 center dot 01). Nose bleeds, haematuria and bleeding at more than one site were significantly reduced. Frequency of RBC transfusion within 5days after PC transfusion was reduced from 74 to 58% (P<0 center dot 0001). Conclusion Platelet concentrate storage time shortening was associated with highly significant CCI increase, reduced RC needs and lower patient numbers with bleeding events.