BACKGROUND: Apheresis platelets (APs) have gained favour over whole blood-derived platelets on the presumption that they are less likely to provoke alloimmunization to red-blood-cell antigens. CASE REPORTS: Non-D Rh antibodies appeared in three patients after apheresis platelet transfusion. Anti-C and anti-E arose in two female patients with previous antigen exposure. Both anti-c and anti-E arose in a male recipient with no prior transfusion history. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty APs were analysed for residual RBCs and RBC-derived microparticles, using samples obtained from a local blood centre. Cells and microparticles were quantified with a flow cytometry gating scheme, using PE-labelled anti-CD235a (glycophorin A) and FITC-labelled anti-CD41a (platelet gp IIb/IIIa) to distinguish lineage. RESULTS: Apheresis platelets were found to contain a mean of 7·5×10(6) (95% C.I. [6·3-8·5×10(6) ]) RBCs on one manufacturer's device and 5·2×10(6) (95% C.I. [4·0-6·3×10(6) ]) RBCs on another's. RBC-derived microparticles averaged 210·7×10(6) (95% C.I. [166·2-254·2×10(6) ]) on one manufacturer's device and 232·3×10(6) (95% C.I. [194·3-272·9×10(6) ]) on another's. These counts all correspond to volumes of <1 μl. CONCLUSION: Despite RBC contamination of APs below commonly accepted thresholds for Rh immunogenicity, AP transfusion can provoke non-D Rh antibody formation. RBC-derived microparticles, smaller but more numerous than RBCs, are volumetrically comparable and may be a hitherto underappreciated antibody stimulus. Further microparticle research will guide considerations of extended phenotypic matching of platelet components.
BACKGROUND: Apheresis platelets (APs) have gained favour over whole blood-derived platelets on the presumption that they are less likely to provoke alloimmunization to red-blood-cell antigens. CASE REPORTS: Non-D Rh antibodies appeared in three patients after apheresis platelet transfusion. Anti-C and anti-E arose in two female patients with previous antigen exposure. Both anti-c and anti-E arose in a male recipient with no prior transfusion history. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty APs were analysed for residual RBCs and RBC-derived microparticles, using samples obtained from a local blood centre. Cells and microparticles were quantified with a flow cytometry gating scheme, using PE-labelled anti-CD235a (glycophorin A) and FITC-labelled anti-CD41a (platelet gp IIb/IIIa) to distinguish lineage. RESULTS: Apheresis platelets were found to contain a mean of 7·5×10(6) (95% C.I. [6·3-8·5×10(6) ]) RBCs on one manufacturer's device and 5·2×10(6) (95% C.I. [4·0-6·3×10(6) ]) RBCs on another's. RBC-derived microparticles averaged 210·7×10(6) (95% C.I. [166·2-254·2×10(6) ]) on one manufacturer's device and 232·3×10(6) (95% C.I. [194·3-272·9×10(6) ]) on another's. These counts all correspond to volumes of <1 μl. CONCLUSION: Despite RBC contamination of APs below commonly accepted thresholds for Rh immunogenicity, AP transfusion can provoke non-D Rh antibody formation. RBC-derived microparticles, smaller but more numerous than RBCs, are volumetrically comparable and may be a hitherto underappreciated antibody stimulus. Further microparticle research will guide considerations of extended phenotypic matching of platelet components.
Authors: Johanna Reckhaus; Markus Jutzi; Stefano Fontana; Vera Ulrike Bacher; Marco Vogt; Michael Daslakis; Behrouz Mansouri Taleghani Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2018-05-24 Impact factor: 3.747
Authors: Louis Thibault; Marie Joëlle de Grandmont; Marie-Pierre Cayer; Nathalie Dussault; Annie Jacques; Eric Ducas; Annie Beauséjour; André Lebrun Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2019-06-27 Impact factor: 3.747