Leukocyte Reduction and Ultraviolet B Irradiation of Platelets to Prevent Alloimmunization and Refractoriness to Platelet Transfusions

Antibodies against alloantigens on donor platelets are a major cause of refractoriness to platelet transfusions in patients with thrombocytopenia. These antibodies usually arise in response to HLA class I antigens on leukocytes and platelets, and they may result from maternal–fetal incompatibility or repeated blood transfusions. Resources to supply HLA-compatible platelets to patients who have refractoriness to platelet transfusions from random donors are often limited. Moreover, up to 60 percent of transfusions of presumably HLA-compatible platelets fail to increase the platelet count in patients whose thrombocytopenia is refractory to transfusions. 1 Previous studies of ways to prevent alloimmunization in patients with thrombocytopenia . . .