Platelet concentrates prepared and stored under currently optimal conditions: minor impact on platelet adhesive and cohesive functions after storage

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 39; no. 9; pp. 951 - 959
• Main Authors: Lozano, M., Estebanell, E., Cid, J., Diaz-Ricart, M., Mazzara, R., Ordinas, A., Escolar, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01.09.1999; Blackwell Publishing
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; BC = buffy coat; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Platelets - chemistry; Blood Platelets - cytology; Blood Platelets - physiology; Blood Preservation - methods; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Fibrinogen - analysis; Fibronectins - analysis; FITC = fluorescein isothiocyanate; Flow Cytometry; GP(s) = glycoprotein(s); Humans; LIMP = lysosomal integral membrane protein; Medical sciences; MFI = mean fluorescence intensity; MoAb(s) = monoclonal antibody(ies); PC(s) = platelet concentrate(s); PE = phycoerythrin; Perfusion; Platelet Adhesiveness; Platelet Count; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex - analysis; PRP = platelet-rich plasma; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; von Willebrand Factor - analysis; vWF = von Willebrand factor; Blood product; Human; Flow cytometry; Cell function; Method; Adhesion; Aggregation; Blood cell; Platelet; Storage; Preparation; Concentrate; Conditioning; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1999.39090951.x

BACKGROUND: The effect on platelets of two standard methods of platelet concentrate (PC) preparation was studied by flow cytometry. The findings were correlated with those obtained in an experimental in vitro perfusion model. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PCs were prepared from whole blood by the platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) or buffy coat (BC) method and placed on a flatbed platelet agitator at 22°C for up to 5 days. Platelet glycoproteins (GP)Ibα, GPIIb/IIIa, and GPIV, p‐selectin and lysosomal integral membrane protein, and the binding of von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, fibronectin, and coagulation factor Va were measured with the corresponding specific conjugated antibodies. Perfusions were carried out in an annular chamber with citrated blood depleted of platelets and white cells by filtration, to which samples from PCs were added. RESULTS: PRP‐PC production provoked intense platelet activation. In contrast, in BC‐derived PCs, platelet activation was milder, and only a significant increase in bound fibrinogen was seen. After 1 day of storage, differences between the methods that had been observed immediately after separation had almost disappeared. During the remaining storage period, increases in activation‐dependent antigens and in procoagulant activity were measured. Of the studied platelet GPs, only GPIIb/IIIa decreased by 25 percent in PRP‐PCs. Differences in covered surface were not significant in perfusion studies performed on Day 0 and after 5 days of storage in PRP‐PCs (26.8 ± 6.9 vs. 20.5 ± 5.8) or BC‐PCs (23.8 ± 11 vs. 24.8 ± 10.2). CONCLUSION: Platelet activation occurred during the separation and storage of PCs prepared by both methods, and it was higher in PRP‐PCs only in samples obtained immediately after preparation. Despite these changes, platelet adhesive and cohesive functions were similar in both types of PCs and remained basically unchanged after storage.