title: Transfusion of platelet concentrates cryopreserved with ThromboSol plus low-dose dimethylsulphoxide in patients with severe thrombocytopenia: a pilot study.
abstract: We have recently reported the possibility of supporting the phase of severe thrombocytopenia after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and stem cell transplantation using 5% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO)-cryopreserved autologous platelet concentrates (PCs). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ThromboSol (a recently developed platelet storage solution) plus PCs cryopreserved in 2% DMSO in patients undergoing myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous transplantation. PCs were collected from 14 women with breast cancer by a single plateletapheresis and cryopreserved in ThromboSol/2% DMSO by either direct insertion in a -80 degrees C freezer or in liquid nitrogen after computer-controlled rate (CR) freezing. When required, PCs were thawed, centrifuged to remove the cryoprotectants and transfused. In vitro studies on thawed platelets showed loss of epitopes of surface glycoproteins and a marked reduction of functional activity compared with fresh platelets. Transfusion of CR-frozen PCs was associated with a mean 1 h corrected count increment (CCI) of 9.2 +/- 5.4 x 109/l and only one allogeneic PC was required in this group. In contrast, six out of seven patients required additional allogeneic transfusions in the -80 degrees C group (CCI = 2.7 +/- 1.4 x 109/l). ThromboSol-treated PCs have the ability to overcome thrombocytopenia if processed by a CR freezing protocol, but appear ineffective when frozen by direct placing at -80 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Fondazione 'S. Maugeri', Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedrazzoli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perotti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiavo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ponchio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belletti
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Da Prada
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Balduini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salvaneschi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robustelli Della Cuna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siena
mesh_terms: D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide