Management of the Platelet Refractory Patient

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2016 Jun;30(3):665-77. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2016.01.008. Epub 2016 Apr 5.

Abstract

Platelet refractoriness occurs when there is an inadequate response to platelet transfusions, which typically has nonimmune causes, but is also associated with alloantibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and/or human platelet antigens. Immune-mediated platelet refractoriness is suggested when a 10-minute to 1-hour corrected count increment of less than 5 × 10(9)/L is observed after 2 sequential transfusions using ABO-identical, freshest available platelets. When these antibodies are identified, one of 3 strategies should be used for identifying compatible platelet units: HLA matching, crossmatching, and antibody specificity prediction. These strategies seem to offer similar results in terms of posttransfusion platelet increments.

Keywords: Alloimmunization; HLA; HPA; Platelet; Refractoriness; Transfusion.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / blood*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism*
  • HLA Antigens / blood*
  • Histocompatibility Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Isoantibodies / blood*
  • Platelet Transfusion*

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • HLA Antigens
  • Isoantibodies