title: Platelet transfusion therapy: from 1973 to 2005.
abstract: Platelet transfusions are indispensable for supportive care of patients with hematological diseases. We describe the developments in platelet products for transfusion since the 1970s, when, in particular, support for patients with allo-antibodies against human leukocyte antigens was a laborious exercise with a high failure rate. Currently, due to many stepwise innovations, platelet transfusions are of low immunogenicity and sufficiently available, they have a shelf life up to 7 days, and even matched platelets can often be routinely delivered, provided that there is good communication between all partners in the chain. Future improvements can be expected from uniform type and screen approaches for immunized patients and cross-matching by computer. For efficient use of health care resources, blood banks and stem cell donor banks could share their typed donor files.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands. anneke.brand@bloodrtd.nl
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tomson
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000266:history; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000266:history; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies