Question

Measurement of recovering platelet count in blood

Answer 1

The ability to distinguish increased platelet destruction from platelet hypo-production is important in the care of patients with bone marrow failure syndromes and patients receiving high dose chemotherapy. The measurement of immature circulating platelets based on RNA content using an automated counter is now feasible. This study evaluated the impact of recent platelet transfusion on measurement of immature platelet parameters.

Answer 2

Platelet transfusion did not significantly change the mean AIPN in transfused patients. In contrast, IPF decreased significantly from 6.6 ±4.6% at day -1 to 2.3 ±1.4% at day 0 before returning to 4.3 ±2.3% at day +1. In the platelet component, AIPN and IPF% increased significantly over 5 days of storage, most likely due to an artifact of the staining and detection process for stored platelets, no longer detected in vivo once the platelets were transfused.