The influence of irradiation on stored platelets

Abstract

Platelet concentrates intended for transfusion to immunosuppressed patients are irradiated to minimize transfusion-induced graft-versus-host disease. Because few reports describe how irradiation influences stored platelets, the authors studied whether 5000 rad of gamma irradiation, the maximum dose currently used clinically, altered platelets in vitro. Platelet concentrates were stored for either 1 day or 5 days in plastic (PL 732) containers before gamma irradiation. One unit of a pair of identical platelet concentrates was irradiated; the second unit served as a control. Irradiation did not alter platelet morphology, mean platelet volume, expression of platelet-factor-3 activity, response to hypotonic stress, extent of discharge of lactate dehydrogenase, release of beta-thromboglobulin, formation of thromboxane B2, nor the ability to undergo synergistic aggregation. The lack of any substantial change was observed whether the platelet concentrates were stored initially for either 1 day or 5 days. These results suggest that stored platelets are not altered deleteriously by irradiation with 5000 rad.

The Effect on Apheresis Platelet Quality During Shipment with Continued Interruption of Agitation for 24 and 48 Hours

“…Under no test conditions did discontinuous agitation affect a change great enough to result in any value outside the range expected for stored PCs on the basis of previous studies. 12,13 The results from this study confirm and extend the results of Simon and Sierra, 6 who showed that PCs could be transported to distant locations early in the PC's shelf life. We found that an interruption of continuous agitation for a 1 or 2 day period did not excessively accelerate the production of lactic acid, so that it did not result in a drop of pH levels to less than 7.0 on Day 5 of storage; contradicting the data presented by Hunter et al 5 They concluded that the increase in production of lactic acid occurs while agitation is interrupted.…”

Quality control of riboflavin-treated platelet concentrates using Mirasol® PRT system: Polish experience

“…during a 5-day storage period. 16,17 Many studies have shown that a drop in the pH during storage to 6.4 or 6.2 causes swelling of the platelets and a decrease in the number of transfused platelets. A pH value <6.1 has been reported to result in irreversible shape changes in transfused platelets and a pH value <6.2 results in a 50% decrease in the number of platelets remaining in circulation after transfusion and a 50% decrease in the half-life of the platelets in circulation.…”

Clinical Evaluation of the Effects of Storage Time and Irradiation on Transfused Platelets

“…Previously reported studies of in vitro function and in vivo survival have looked at the effect of 50 Gy [5,13]. Using this dose, Moroff et al [13] measured various parameters of platelet The reason for the impaired recovery after 5-day storage is likely to be multifactorial but appears to result from an increasing proportion of platelets becoming non-viable with increased storage times. If the Cl are expressed as a ratio of 20-hour to I-hour recovery (table 3), there is no significant difference related to storage time.…”