Response to vWF-coated beads and soluble p-selectin to characterize apheresis platelets: a comparison of three cell separators.
BACKGROUND
Plateletpheresis technologies differ among various cell separators. Differences in centrifugation force, centrifugation time, and platelet concentration in the platelet concentrate may affect platelet activation and function.


METHODS
In a three-way crossover design, 12 donors were randomly assigned to three types of cell separators, two continuous flow systems (Amicus DN, Fenwall Division, Baxter and Spectra LRS, Gambro BCT) and one intermittent flow system (MCS+, Haemonetics). The response to vWF-coated beads was determined in the peripheral blood and fresh platelet concentrates to obtain information about the initiating step of platelet aggregation, that is, platelet adhesion. Levels of soluble p-selectin were measured as a marker of platelet activation.


RESULTS
Platelet yield and concentration of platelets were higher in platelet concentrates obtained with the Amicus DN than with the Spectra LRS or the MCS+. Maximal aggregation was significantly higher in platelets from the Amicus DN than in platelets from the Spectra LRS or the MCS+. Higher concentrations of soluble p-selectin were seen in platelet concentrates obtained with the Amicus DN than in concentrates from the Spectra LRS or the MCS+, but they did not differ after correction for the number of platelets per component.


CONCLUSIONS
Different plateletpheresis procedures induced distinct changes of platelet function. Platelets collected using the Amicus DN retained the strongest adhesion capacity irrespective of their activation.
Stiegler
Gabriele
G
Clinic for Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
Eichelberger
Beate
B
Leitner
Gerda
G
Jilma
Bernd
B
Hoecker
Paul
P
Panzer
Simon
S
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D010983:Plateletpheresis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012995:Solubility; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
D019007:P-Selectin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor