Autologous cryopreserved platelets and prophylaxis of bleeding in autologous bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

Autologous platelets were harvested and cryopreserved in eight consecutive patients elected for ablative chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for solid malignancy. There was a 19% loss in platelet count after the freeze thaw and wash procedure; with an in vitro functional loss of 40-60%. No correlation could be found for individual platelet transfusions between in vitro functional tests and in vivo recovery. Six consecutive patients received a total of 16 autologous platelet transfusions in the aplastic phase of ABMT. No bleeding was observed during the study period and there was no CMV infection in the recipients. While improvement in freezing and subsequent handling is desirable, autologous cryopreserved platelets can safely be used for the prophylaxis of bleeding during aplasia in patients treated with ABMT.

Platelet cryopreservation using a trehalose and phosphate formulation

“…But, when compared to fresh platelets in vitro and in vivo, Me 2 SO preserved platelets still have significant defects, for example, the cytoplasmic Ca 2þ increase induced by thrombin is not observed in Me 2 SO preserved platelets (Balduini et al, 1993). Also, almost half of the Me 2 SO-preserved platelets are rapidly cleared by the reticuloendothelial system after transfusion; therefore the in vivo recovery of the Me 2 SOpreserved platelets are only one-half to two-thirds of that of fresh platelets (Herve, 1982;Schiffer et al, 1976;van Imhoff et al, 1983). As a result of concerns about potential toxicity and other side effects, Me 2 SO must be washed away before transfusion, For these reasons, researchers have been searching for methods to totally replace Me 2 SO as a cryoprotectant (Herve, 1982), or at least to decrease Me 2 SO concentration by combining it with other excipients (Borzini et al, 1993(Borzini et al, , 2000.…”