Platelet Transfusion (BSH 2016)
Intro
Usage
275,000 adult platelet units used per year in England
Increasing demand, 25% over 7-8 years. Due to ageing population and increasing survival and treatment intensity of haematological malignancy
Users
Haematology 70%, Cardiac surgery 10%, ITU 10%
Donors
Number of donors down 35% compared to year 2000
Dosage
Approx 240 x109 platelets contained in 150-300ml plasma/PAS
WHO Bleeding Score (summarized)
0 – No bleeding
1 – Petechiae in dependent sites, oropharyngeal bleeding, epistaxis <30 min
2 – Mild GI bleeding, epistaxis >30 min, multiple bruising, bleeding in cavity fluids
3 – Bleeding requiring RBC transfusion, Neuro bleed on CT without symptoms
4 – Debilitating bleeding, haemodynamic instability from bleeding, fatal bleed
Principles
Identify cause of thrombocytopenia first so as to treat correctly
Use other measures first
Local measures (compression), use of lowest risk procedure / equipment
TXA
Think about desmopressin, fibrinogen, TPO’s
Contraindications to plt transfusion
Thrombotic microangiopathies
Risks
Allergic Reaction (1 in 6000)
Patients with history of >mild allergic reaction to platelets should receive platelets suspended in PAS. If continues to react, use washed platelets.
ABO and Rh Incompatibility (1 in 600,000)
Acceptable to use ABO incompatible platelets to reduce wastage, but these should be high titre negative units. Use pf Platelet Additive Solution (PAS) for pooled platelets reduces risk further
Rh D- girls and women of childbearing potential should receive Rh D- platelets. In emergency, give Anti-D 250 IU to cover Rh D+ platelets
Rh D- boys <18 yo, those with anti-D antibodies and transfusion-dependent adults should ideally receive Rh D- platelets, but not at the expense of Rh D+ wastage. Anti-D not required
TRALI (<1 in 1 million)
Reaction between donor leukocyte antibodies and recipients leukocyte antigens
Transfusion-Transmitted Infection (TTI)
HIV 1 in 7 million, Hep B 1 in 1 million, Hep C 1 in 30 million
Bacterial contamination, rare since bacterial screening started in 2010
Post-transfusion Pupura
Almost exclusively occurs in women following transfusion of platelet containing blood products (RBC, Plt, Granulocytes) leading to alloimmunisation against an antigen of the donor cells but that then causes destruction of patient’s own platelets.
Typically 5 days post-transfusion. Lasts days to weeks. Rx with IVIg
All clinical areas transfusing platelets should be able to deal with acute transfusion reactions and have guidelines for such events in place.
Platelet Refractoriness
A one hour post transfusion increment of <5 on two separate occasions when using ABO-identical platelets and in the absence of non-immune factors.
Non-immune causes are more common than immune
Consumptive coagulopathy, sepsis & splenomegaly account for 80% of cases
With introduction of leucodepletion of blood components, alloimmunisation rate is now 3% (TRAP 1997)
Management Pathway
Use ABO matched platelets
Patients refractory to platelets for non-immune reasons, HLA matching not indicated
Class 1 HLA-matched platelets
HPA matched platelets
Specific Cases
Glazmann thrombasthenia
Lack of 2b/3a receptor increases the risk of alloimmunisation
Consider fFVIIa first line. HLA-matched if plt used.
Other congenital platelet disorders – consider TXA + Desmopressin first line.
ITP
Only consider if treatment has failed and urgent intervention required.
Give in combination with IVIg
Acquired platelet disorders (i.e. Anti-platelets)
In vitro studies suggest aspirin more reversible than clopidogrel/ticagrelor
However, aspirin increases bleeding risk but not severity and so platelet transfusion rarely indicated
Odds of death or disability higher for platelet transfused patients in a RTC looking at ICH on anti-platelets. ?Due to being on aspirin for an underlying thrombotic condition. However overall was not a good quality trial
Do not use platelets when antiplatelet agents have not been stopped
Use general measures +/- TXA
Consider plt transfusion if critical bleeding not responding to other measures
Consider plt transfusion in bleeding with plt count <10 due to abciximab
Platelet transfusion thresholds
A few trial notes
TRAP 1997 (Trial to Reduce Alloimmunisation to Platelets study)
530 patients receiving induction chemo for AML
Leucocyte depleted vs Non-depleted platelet transfusions
Leucocyte depleted - 18% alloimmunised and 3% refractoriness due to alloimmunisation
Non-depleted - 45% alloimmunised and 13% refractoriness due to alloimmunisation