Flödescytometrisk utvärdering av Den Blodstillande förmågan Hos Trombocyter Avsedda för Transfusion

Cytotoxic treatment for malignant hematologic disorders often casue thrombocytopenia that can result in life threatening bleedings. This is prevented by platelet transfusions but these can cause serious transfusion reactions and thus the number of transused platelet concentrates should be limited. It is therefore important that the platelet concentrates contain functional platelets with long circulation time in the bloodstream.

The role of platelets in hemostasis is complex. Upon vascular injury, platelets adhere at the injured site where they become activated, release their granule content and aggregate. Activation include changes in receptors, expression of activation markers and become procaoagulant. We have developed a method with flow cytometry to measures these platelet function markers. It allows us to determine which pathways that are initiated upon activation.

Platelets can be stored a maximum of 5-7 days before transfusion. However, the preparation process and subsequent storage can result in platelet lesions, affecting their ability to promote hemostasis and circulate after transfusion.

The aim of this project is to assess to what degree spontaneous activation of platelets as well as their activation capacity affects the transfusion response (i.e. uptake in the circulation and circulation time) in the recipient.

The hypothesis is that transfusion of platelets with low spontaneous activation and high activation capacity will lead to a higher transfusion response in the recipient.