Thrombocytopenia following routine blood transfusion: micro-aggregate blood filters prevent worsening thrombocytopenia in patients with low platelet counts.
11 patients with anaemia and thrombocytopenia due to bone marrow failure each received 2 sets of red-cell transfusions. They were randomised to receive 1 blood transfusion through a standard 170-micron giving set filter and another through a 40 micron micro-aggregate filter. After transfusion, the mean fall in platelet count was 15 x 10(9)/l (41.7%) and 1.4 x 10(9)/l (4.6%), respectively (p less than 0.01). The results confirm the findings of a previous study which showed that micro-aggregate filters prevent a post-transfusional decrease in platelet counts. In addition, this new study shows that this is clinically relevant in patients who are thrombocytopenic at the time of their blood transfusion.
Lim
S
S
Department of Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Boughton
B J
BJ
Bareford
D
D
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*