Donor parameters and characteristics can affect the quantity of platelets obtained from a donor (platelet yields), with significant implications for patients with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), according to a recently published study in the Journal of the Scientific Society.
The authors led a prospective study that included 160 plateletpheresis procedures performed in one year. Results revealed that donors with a pre-donation platelet count, body mass index (BMI) and total leucocyte count tended to have a greater platelet yield. On the other hand, a high platelet size determined by mean platelet volume (MPV) is correlated with a lower yield.
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There was no significant correlation between age, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, platelet distribution with (PDW) and platelet yield.
“In the SDP procedure, platelet yield has a positive correlation with donor parameters such as pre-donation platelet count, BMI, and TLC and a negative correlation with MPV,” the authors wrote. “These donor characteristics need to be borne in mind while recruiting the donors for the SDP procedure for better yield of platelets,”
The importance of donor platelet yield
Platelet transfusions are crucial for patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia causes range from FNAIT to immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and dengue fever.
There are two methods for obtaining platelet units; the first one involves combining platelets from several donors, and the second uses platelets from a single donor. Single donor platelets (SDP) are preferred over random donor platelets (RDP) because they reduce the risk of transfusion-associated infections and transfusion reactions.
However, the number of platelets in an SDP can vary from patient to patient. Therefore, the authors aimed to further investigate factors that influence platelet yield.
“Several variables affect the platelet recovery in a recipient, and the platelet dose transfused is the most important among these variables. The quality of the platelet product is assessed particularly in terms of platelet yield,” the authors wrote.
