Leukocyte‐Poor Platelet Concentrates at the Bedside by Filtration through Sepacell‐PL

Abstract

We developed a new filter, 'Sepacell-PL', consisting of a blood administration set for the preparation of leukocyte-poor platelet concentrates at the patient's bedside. This filter is packed with 1.8 microns polyester fibers coated with a new polymer, and has a volume of 14 ml. Sepacell-PL removed more than 99% of the leukocytes while approximately 93% of platelets were recovered from 10 units of platelet concentrates which contained 5 x 10(8) leukocytes and 3 x 10(11) platelets. The functions of pre- and postfiltrated platelets were unchanged. The filtration procedure is very simple, without priming with saline to remove air and wet the filter. Moreover, platelet concentrates can be passed through the filter at a flow rate of 4 ml/min, or at a higher flow rate of 54 ml/min by gravity.

Comparison of Platelet Activation and Membrane Glycoprotein lb and IIb-IIIa Expression after Filtration through Three Different Leukocyte Removal Filters

“…MPV was significantly reduced following filtration, which suggests that the filters can selec tively remove larger platelets. Similar results were reported by Miyamoto et al [18]; these findings can be considered a disadvantage, based on data indicating that larger platelets are younger and more effective, or an advantage, based on the opposite evidence that larger platelets are older and less hemostatically effective [20]. The results of studies con cerning platelet membrane expression of constituents asso ciated to platelet activation (GMP140 and gp 53) [7] and postransfusion recovery and survival (GMP 140 and gly coprotein lb) [4,6] indicate that filtration through these filters does not induce important modifications of the var iables examined.…”

“…This work is an extension to other studies which indicate that other parameters of platelet quality, i.e. pH [15,16], mor phology [16,17] and platelet function [15][16][17][18], are not signif icantly modified after platelet filtration. The results of our study indicate that leukocyte removal and platelet recovery are satisfactory with all three filters examined, although statistically significant variations in performance were found.…”

“…The results of our study indicate that leukocyte removal and platelet recovery are satisfactory with all three filters examined, although statistically significant variations in performance were found. Differences in platelet recovery and leukocyte con tamination among this study, our previous investigation [9] and other reports [15][16][17][18] are probably due to technical factors including the number of PC in the filtered pool, the method of residual leukocyte count, and the rinsing maneu ver which was performed by some investigators with vari-In summary, leukocyte removal of Sepacell PL-10A was higher than that of Pall PL100 and Imugard IG 500; this was associated to a significantly higher platelet loss than that with Imugard. Filtration through the three filters examined did not determine significant modifications of platelet membrane glycoprotein Ilb-IIIa and of other constituents related to platelet activation, in vivo recovery and survival.…”

Platelet Concentrates Stored in Synthetic Medium after Filtration

“…In this study we did not observe any signif icant difference in filtered platelets mean size compared to controls. These data differ from the results of other studies performed in our and other laboratories [5,15] on platelets suspended in plasma. The reason for this differ ence may be related to the synthetic medium used for BCPC storage in the present study.…”

“…Recently, a sterile connection device has become available, and storage of pooled and/or fil tered platelet concentrates appears to be practicable. Al though a number of investigators reported in vitro charac teristics and in vivo effectiveness of filtered PC evaluated soon after filtration [2][3][4][5], studies on the feasibility of PC storage after filtration are scanty. Instead of using the traditional method of PC preparation from platelet-rich Materials and Methods bound fibrinogen, a kind gift of Dr. Budzynski (Philadelphia, Pa., USA).…”