title: Platelet transfusion support for patients with cancer and hematologic malignancies.
abstract: Advances in platelet transfusion have contributed to improved outcomes in the treatment of patients with cancer and leukemia. However, the optimal strategies to avoid some of the side effects that could result from platelet transfusions remain under investigation. These side effects include the development of refractoriness to transfusions, alloimmunization, transfusion reactions, the transmission of infectious agents, and transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. Leukodepletion by filtration is promising as a means of preventing the development of alloimmunization. Results of the Trial to Reduce Alloimmunization to Platelets will be reported shortly and will shed more light on that issue. Bedside filtration of cellular blood products also diminishes the transmission of cytomegalovirus infections by that route. Transfusion reactions are often mediated by cytokines in the plasma fraction of transfused platelet concentrates, and leukodepletion prior to storage reduces their incidence. Serious bacterial infections are sometimes transmitted by platelet transfusions and improved methods are needed for their detection and prevention. Photochemical methods that could inactivate bacteria and viruses in contaminated products deserve further study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematologic Malignancies, University of Maryland Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201-1595, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarkodee-Adoo
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schiffer
mesh_terms: D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D017713:Platelet Transfusion