Platelet storage in a plasma‐free medium

Abstract

Currently, platelet concentrates are stored in 50 to 60 ml of plasma. A major drawback to storage in plasma is the considerable loss of platelet function which occurs during storage. A modified Tyrodes medium has been developed for storage of platelets. A comparison between platelet concentrates stored in this medium and in plasma showed that platelet aggregation and release responses to synergistic pairs of stimuli were equivalent for both types of concentrates on the day of preparation and after 72 hours. Platelet aggregation and release responses to single stimuli, the content of membrane glycoproteins, and the pH declined during storage but were similar for both preparations. The data show that plasma is not required to maintain in vitro platelet function during storage of platelet concentrates, but in vivo functions remain to be determined. The use of an artificial medium has the advantages of decreasing patient exposure to plasma contaminants, generating additional plasma for fractionation, and controlling more exactly the storage environment.

Clinical Evaluation of Platelet Concentrates Either in Plasma or in Additive Solution

“…Due to the absence of anti-A and anti-B, ABO-incompatible transfusions are better tolerated [10], life-threatening anaphylaxis or febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions after transfusion of PCs is a serious clinical problem caused by the sensitizing of recipients to plasma components, such as cytokines [11]. The use of an additive solution as the major component of the platelet storage medium was first described by Rock et al [12]. The preparation and storage of PCs in a platelet additive solution (PAS-2) have been shown to result in acceptable storage conditions [9] but require the carryover of substantial (30%) amounts of plasma for success.…”

Storage of Platelets for Transfusion in Additive Solutions: Effects of Different Factors and Compounds

“…The storage medium was composed of approximately 15% of residual plasma and 85% of additive solution. After 72 h, in vitro characteristics comparable to those of PCs stored in plasma were found [6]. During the following years, a number of new PASs were designed, and results of different studies were presented.…”

“…PAS is used as a substitute for plasma in order to 1) improve storage conditions to increase the shelf life of the platelets and, at the same time, to maintain the viability and hemostatic function at a high level, 2) reduce the amount of plasma transfused with platelets and recover additional plasma for other purposes, primarily fractionation, 3) avoid transfusion of large volumes of plasma with possible adverse reactions and circulatory overload, and 4) make possible photochemical treatment for viral inactivation of PCs. In the 1980s, Rock et al [6] studied the storage of platelets in synthetic media. Plasma was replaced by additive solution after concentration of platelets by centrifugation.…”

Types and sources of fuels for platelets in a medium containing minimal added fuels and a low carryover plasma

“…Therefore we have identified the fuels that account for about 80% of oxygen consumption and ATP turnover by platelets in a medium with low carryover plasma. The implications of these data for storage strategies are discussed.Keywords: platelet storage, fuel, plasma, oxygen.In the past 10 years, significant progress has been made in the development of practical and effective synthetic media for the blood bank storage of platelets, with the promise of considerable saving of plasma, fewer transfusion reactions and longer storage (Moroff & Holme, 1991;Kickler, 1991;Rock et al, 1985Rock et al, , 1991Adams & Rock, 1988;Murphy et al, 1995). A wide range of storage formulations have been developed, most of which are effective in replacing a proportion of the plasma, and good storage results have been reported with platelet additive solutions containing acetate Guppy et al, 1990;Whisson et al, 1993) and glucose (Holme et al, 1987b).…”