Management of patients refractory to platelet transfusion.
OBJECTIVE
To present a current assessment and practical approach to the diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions.


METHODS
A task force was convened by the College of American Pathologists under the auspices of the Transfusion Medicine Resource Committee for the purposes of outlining current concepts in the definition and diagnosis of this difficult clinical management problem and selection of the optimal platelet component for these patients.


RESULTS
This article represents a contemporary approach to the diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions. This document is based on a current literature review and dialog among members of the task force convened to address the subject.


CONCLUSIONS
It is hoped that this document will represent a resource and practical approach to the issue of diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions.
Sacher
Ronald A
RA
University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hoxworth Blood Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Ronald.Sacher@uc.edu
Kickler
Thomas S
TS
Schiffer
Charles A
CA
Sherman
Laurence A
LA
Bracey
Arthur W
AW
Shulman
Ira A
IA
D019090:Case Management; D006801:Humans; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D017211:Treatment Failure