Marked, progressive increases in serum citrate levels occur during plateletpheresis, accompanied by symptomatic decreases in iCa and iMg, with significantly increased renal excretion of calcium, magnesium, and citrate.

Prophylactic Ca infusions safely attenuate the marked metabolic effects of citrate administration and promote faster, more comfortable, leukapheresis procedures.

Plateletpheresis induces marked acute metabolic effects, with sustained changes evident up to 24 hours after the completion of apheresis. Oral Ca supplementation exerts a significant but clinically modest impact on selected laboratory variables associated with these effects. Further studies are indicated to examine the long-term impact of plateletpheresis, with or without Ca supplementation, on donor Ca balance and bone density.