title: Massive platelet transfusion is a rapidly effective emergency treatment in patients with refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Patients with refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may develop life-threatening bleeding that cannot be immediately controlled by drug administration. To date, there have been no studies conducted to evaluate the efficacy of platelet transfusion alone in such cases. Ten patients with refractory ITP and bleeding or a high bleeding risk were consecutively transfused (one unit/30 min) with apheresis platelet concentrates (APC) without the administration of new drugs. The used APCs (average 3-7 units) contained 2.7 x 10(11) (medium) platelets and were leukodepleted (< or = 1 x 10(6) leukocytes/unit). Platelet serology was performed using standard techniques. Platelet transfusion resulted in an increase in the platelet count to 84 - 157 x 10(3)/microl, and the cessation of bleeding in all patients without any serious adverse effects. Although platelet counts gradually decreased within a few days post-transfusion, bleeding was stopped in all cases. These findings indicate that consecutive platelet transfusion using APCs is a rapidly effective emergency treatment in patients with refractory ITP.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, D - 13353 Berlin, Germany. abdulgabar.salama@charite.de
authors.forename: Abdulgabar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salama
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kalus
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Movassaghi
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult