Background: The aim of the present study was to assess ex-vivo function of pathogen-inactivated versus conventional platelet concentrates (PC) in the perioperative setting.
Material and methods: A total of 30 patients who underwent cardiac surgery and who postoperatively depended on the transfusion of two platelet concentrates were enrolled into this study. Of the patients 15 received conventional buffy coat PC (conv. PC) and 15 received pathogen-inactivated PC (PI-PC). Age, volume and platelet content of each PC were recorded. Before (T0) and 30 min after PC transfusion (T1), blood samples were taken and platelet function analyses (MEA) and conventional laboratory coagulation analyses were performed. The transfusion-associated increment of platelet concentration (increment) and the corrected count increment (CCI) were assessed at timepoint T1.
Results: There were no significant group differences between the groups in MEA analyses or conventional laboratory at T0 or T1. The platelet content per PC was significantly higher in the PI-PC group [3.3 (3.1/3.5)× 10(11) platelets per PI-PC versus 3 (2.9/3)× 10(11) platelets per conv. PC, p<0.001]. Platelet increment (42±27×10(9)/l versus 69.4±29×10(9)/l, p=0.013) was significantly lower in the PI-PC group.
Conclusion: Whereas ex-vivo analyses of platelet function did not show any group differences at T1, a significantly lower increment was seen in the pilot study after transfusion of PI-PC as compared to conventional PC.