December 13, 2022
Investigators from the Japanese Red Cross Society joined the latest episode of the Transfusion Monthly Podcast to discuss their recent Transfusion report that explored the hemostatic function of cold-stored platelets in a thrombocytopenic rabbit bleeding model.
In the study, Masayuki Nogawa, Shigeki Miyata and their co-investigators compared the hemostatic rates of room temperature-stored platelet concentrates in platelet additive solution (RTS-PAS-PC) and cold-stored platelet concentrates (CS-PAS-PC) in platelet additive solution. During the study period, hemostatic rates for both products were 100% on day 3, 93 ± 15% and 73 ± 15% on day 6, and 65 ± 36% and 73 ± 37% on day 9, respectively. Total platelet counts were significantly lower after CS-PAS-PC than RTS-PAS-PC transfusion on all days.
Investigators concluded that CS-PAS-PCs might achieve similar hemostasis as RTS-PAS-PCs in thrombocytopenic patients with mild bleeding. They also believe that hemostatic efficacy could be improved by transfusing more CS-PAS-PCs.
In their conversation with podcast host Yara Park, MD, Nogawa and Miyata summarized their findings and described what inspired the study. They also discuss what their findings may mean for transfusion medicine in Japan.