Platelet Transfusions: Maximizing Benefits with Minimal Risk

Platelet transfusions can improve the outcomes of patients presented with potentially fatal bleeding problems.¹ As with any transfusion, however, the benefits of platelet transfusions are accompanied by potential risks. These risks, which include infectious disease, sepsis, and immune-mediated reactions, are similar to those seen with other blood products but may be even more pronounced with platelet transfusions. Human studies have demonstrated that platelet transfusions are associated with a higher risk for bacterial infection and sepsis as compared with other blood products,^2,3 as well as associated with a higher risk for reactions than with RBC or fresh frozen plasma transfusions.⁴

Given the potential risks associated with platelet transfusion, it is essential to select a product that maximizes patient safety.

StablePlate RX: An Innovative Platelet Transfusion Product

StablePlate RX is a shelf-stable lyophilized platelet product designed to treat acute uncontrolled hemorrhage due to thrombocytopenia. This product is supplied as a white cake within a vial, which can be stored at room temperature for 2 years and reconstituted with sterile water for IV administration.

StablePlate RX has several unique characteristics that are designed to reduce risk in veterinary patients. The product is leukoreduced; removing WBCs from RBC and platelet transfusions has been shown to decrease the risk for immune-mediated transfusion reactions.^5-8

StablePlate RX also employs thorough donor-screening protocols. Without proper donor screening, leukoreduced platelets can transmit infectious diseases. At least one human patient has been infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum via a leukoreduced platelet transfusion.⁹ StablePlate RX screens donors every 3 months for all pathogens as recommended by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.¹⁰ The use of thorough donor-screening protocols allows StablePlate RX to be produced with minimal infectious disease risk.

Finally, additional pathogen inactivation occurs during the manufacture of StablePlate RX to further reduce pathogens. The platelets are exposed to 176°F (80°C) temperatures for 24 hours during processing, which decreases the concentration of viral and bacterial particles 4-fold.^11,12 In addition, endotoxin and sterility testing are performed for each manufacturing batch.¹² These additional measures further reduce the risk for infectious disease and sepsis. Preliminary studies involving the use of StablePlate RX show that these measures are effective. In a study, 28 patients received StablePlate RX during early tests and none of these patients developed adverse effects after administration.^11,12

Maximize Benefits While Mitigating Risk

Although no transfusion is entirely risk-free, platelet transfusions can be a matter of life or death in patients with uncontrolled or life-threatening bleeding.¹³ StablePlate RX technology offers the life-saving benefits of a platelet transfusion in a convenient, safe formulation that minimizes the risk for adverse effects.