Digital polymerase chain reaction to monitor platelet transfusions in cardiac surgery patients

Background and Objectives Corrected count increment (CCI) measurements monitor the effectiveness of platelet transfusions in haemato‐oncology, but they usually fail in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We investigated whether polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of mitochondrial single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is able to monitor the survival of transfused platelets in these patients. Materials and Methods Leukocyte‐free, platelet‐rich plasma was prepared from patients' blood to measure platelet counts based on patient‐/donor‐specific SNPs by digital PCR after DNA extraction. Platelet counts in samples from patients with severe thrombocytopenia were analysed by both PCR and flow cytometry. Ten patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of heart lung machine and without overt bleeding received a single apheresis platelet concentrate because of either dual platelet inhibition during a non‐elective intervention or a complex procedure. Blood samples were collected at nine defined intervals (0–120 h) post transfusion. Results The digital PCR of the seven SNPs reliably quantified levels ≥0.6 G/L platelets, in good agreement with flow cytometry and without interference by other SNPs or by platelet activation. A mean 24‐h CCI of 11.8 (range: 5.6–19.8) and a mean 120‐h area under the curve (AUC) of 1386 (915–1821) hxG/L were observed for the transfused platelets. The mean AUC of 14,103 (3415–27,305) hxG/L for the patients' endogenous platelets indicates that transfused platelets represented only 11% (5–25) of the total platelet counts during 120 h post transfusion. Conclusion PCR of mitochondrial SNPs offers a tool to assess the survival of platelets from apheresis concentrates in cardiac surgery patients to facilitate the implementation of improved transfusion strategies.