Therapeutic thrombocytapheresis in myeloproliferative neoplasms: A single‐institution experience

Abstract

Thrombocytosis is usually seen in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and associated with thrombohemorrhagic complications. Therapeutic thrombocytapheresis using an automatic cell separator can help to achieve prompt platelet count reduction to decrease the rate of thrombotic events. In this study, we report a single center's experience in managing MPN patients with thrombocytapheresis prior to chemotherapy. Thrombocytapheresis procedures were performed in 185 MPN patients with thrombocytosis between January 2016 and June 2017. The median percentage reduction of platelets was 44.5% and the median percentage removal efficiency was 65.2% for 83 procedures where the waste bag was sampled. Procedures were generally well tolerated with few patients having mild adverse events (13 out of 185 patients).

The safety and performance of the Spectra Optia apheresis system platelet depletion protocol in patients with elevated platelet counts

“…11 Nguyen et al retrospectively analyzed data from MPN patients who underwent a single thrombocytapheresis procedure on the Spectra Optia prior to initiation of chemotherapy. 10 They found after a single procedure patients had a 44.5% median reduction in PLT count and a median CE1 of 65.2%. 10 The values reported by Nguyen et al are similar to the results obtained in this study, indicating that thrombocytapheresis can reduce circulating PLT counts in symptomatic MPN patients.…”

“… 10 They found after a single procedure patients had a 44.5% median reduction in PLT count and a median CE1 of 65.2%. 10 The values reported by Nguyen et al are similar to the results obtained in this study, indicating that thrombocytapheresis can reduce circulating PLT counts in symptomatic MPN patients.…”

“…ASFA has recommended thrombocytapheresis as a second‐line therapy for thrombocytosis, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other modes of treatments 5 . More recently, a few clinical trials have been conducted assessing the efficacy of thrombocytapheresis adjunct to pharmacotherapy and have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes 10,11 . Baron, et al, retrospectively analyzed the combined use of thrombocytapheresis and chemotherapy for symptomatic thrombocytosis in 29 MPN patients.…”

“…Nguyen et al retrospectively analyzed data from MPN patients who underwent a single thrombocytapheresis procedure on the Spectra Optia prior to initiation of chemotherapy 10 . They found after a single procedure patients had a 44.5% median reduction in PLT count and a median CE1 of 65.2% 10 .…”

“… 5 More recently, a few clinical trials have been conducted assessing the efficacy of thrombocytapheresis adjunct to pharmacotherapy and have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes. 10 , 11 Baron, et al, retrospectively analyzed the combined use of thrombocytapheresis and chemotherapy for symptomatic thrombocytosis in 29 MPN patients. All patients achieved remission within an average range of 0.6 to 2.6 months following initial combination treatment.…”