Our experience in riboflavin and ultraviolet light pathogen reduction technology for platelets: from platelet production to patient care

Abstract

Although PRT can improve PLT safety, it can increase the amount of PLTs required for transfusion in some patient categories. The cost of PRT can be partially offset by the savings associated with a lower rate of PLT outdates. This cost reduction can be a key factor in settings where inventory management is challenged by a high percentage of wasted PLTs due to outdating.

Use and safety of riboflavin and UV light‐treated platelet transfusions in children over a five‐year period: focusing on neonates

“…Our comparative study shows that neonates transfused with PLTs diluted in PAS and treated with riboflavin and UV light‐PRT require the transfusion of more PLTs than neonates receiving standard PLTs. Additionally, the adverse transfusion reaction rate in children transfused with PAS‐PLTs treated with riboflavin and UV light was found to be in accordance with data in the literature for children and adults receiving PLTs treated with the same PRT. PRT‐treated PLTs seem to be safe for children, since in 5 years (2013‐2017) not a single severe PLT transfusion reaction was reported in children transfused with riboflavin and UV light‐treated PLTs.…”

“…Therefore, riboflavin and UV light PRT together with PLT storage in PAS can apparently reduce the rate of febrile and allergic reactions to PLT transfusions in children. Our group has recently demonstrated that the transfusion of PAS‐PLTs treated with riboflavin and UV light significantly decreases the rate of febrile and allergic transfusion reactions in adults . Furthermore, all PLT transfusion reactions observed in children were mild from 2013‐2017.…”

“…This difference is likely because our patients were transfused with PLTs diluted in PAS and treated with riboflavin and UV light, as both factors can reduce the incidence of reactions. Recent hemovigilance studies have reported that the use of riboflavin and UV light‐treated PLTs has the potential to decrease the rate of transfusion reactions, specifically febrile non‐hemolytic and allergic reactions . It is also known that PLTs suspended in PAS are associated with a lower rate of febrile non‐hemolytic and allergic reactions than PLTs stored in 100% plasma …”

“…In efforts to improve transfusion safety, pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) are being implemented . In addition to inactivating bacteria, parasites and viruses, including CMV, PRT brings other benefits: replacement of gamma irradiation by white blood cell (WBC) inactivation, which eliminates the risk of transfusion‐transmitted GVHD; a lower frequency of febrile and allergic transfusion reactions and possibly a reduction in alloimmunization and preventing PLT refractoriness, which according to a recent publication still needs to be confirmed by evidence from clinical practice …”

The long and winding road to pathogen reduction of platelets, red blood cells and whole blood

“…A number of reports describe local and national programmes developed during the voluntary or mandatory implementation of platelet PRT in different geographical regions (Osselaer et al , ; Jimenez‐Marco et al , , ; Jutzi et al , ; Garraud & Lozano, ; Rutter & Snyder, ) and the outcomes of regular haemovigilance programmes developed after routine PRT use (Knutson et al , ; Łętowska et al , ; Piotrowski et al , ).…”