Plateletpheresis does not cause long-standing platelet-derived growth factor release into the donor blood.
BACKGROUND
Recently, long-standing elevations of soluble growth factors released from platelets (PLTs) after contact with artificial surfaces during dialysis were described. They could be jointly responsible for the high frequency of death from cardiovascular diseases in dialysis patients. There are no comparable data on the extent and the duration of a growth factor release by plateletpheresis procedures.


METHODS
A total of 37 plateletpheresis procedures were performed with two different devices. PLT-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoform AB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) were measured in the donors' plasma samples, and PLT activation and function were measured by cytometry and aggregometry before and after plateletpheresis and 1 and 24 hours later.


RESULTS
Before apheresis, the following mean plasma levels were found: beta-TG, 98.6 +/- 37.3 IU per mL; PDGF-AB, 71.5 +/- 38.5 pg per mL; and TGF-beta1, 2.24 +/- 0.80 ng per mL. At the end of the apheresis procedures, the mean PDGF-AB level had increased by a factor of 1.8 (p < 0.05). One hour later, the mean PDGF-AB level had normalized again. No significant change in the levels of beta-TG and TGF-beta1 was found by the apheresis procedures. There was no influence of the blood cell separator type on the results.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a slight and rapidly reversible increase in soluble PDGF-AB was found during plateletpheresis and no increase in soluble TGF-beta1 and beta-TG was found. This change should not be harmful to the donor.
Zimmermann
Robert
R
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostaseology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany. robert.zimmermann@trans.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Loew
Daniela
D
Weisbach
Volker
V
Strasser
Erwin
E
Ringwald
Juergen
J
Zingsem
Juergen
J
Eckstein
Reinhold
R
D001782:Blood Donors; D006801:Humans; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D010983:Plateletpheresis / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; C095477:platelet-derived growth factor AB