Platelets: VII. Shortened “Platelet Survival Time” and Development of Platelet Agglutinins Following Multiple Platelet Transfusions. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. The rate of platelet disappearance or platelet survival time was followed at regular intervals in 4 patients with hypoplastic or aplastic anemia receiving repeated transfusions of platelet-rich polycythemic blood or of isolated platelets as supportive therapy. As transfusions were repeated, in 3 of these patients, a) survival time of platelets became progressively shorter, b) administration of platelets was less and less effective in the control of the bleeding manifestations. In one patient a platelet agglutinin was detected in the serum. 2. Search for platelet agglutinins was conducted in the serum of 11 patients who had Received multiple blood transfusions over a period of months. A low titer platelet agglutinin was detected in one case. This patient developed mild thrombocytopenia and exhibited shortened platelet survival time. 3. These findings suggest that “refractoriness” to the therapeutic effect of the administration of platelets may develop in patients receiving multiple platelet or blood transfusions. This may be due to the development of antiplatelet substances in the serum, at least in individual cases.