Cryopreserved platelets have decreased adhesive capacity

Abstract

The technique of freezing blood platelets has proven very useful in transfusion support of some patients who have become alloimmunized by prior transfusions. Although transfused frozen platelets have an acceptable life span in vivo, functional defects have been found when these cells were tested in vitro. The adhesive properties of frozen platelets were investigated by use of a modified Baumgartner chamber to perform paired perfusion studies of fresh versus frozen platelets or fresh versus 5-day-stored platelets from the same whole blood unit. Platelets were either frozen in liquid nitrogen with dimethyl sulfoxide as the cryopreservative or stored under standard blood bank conditions for 5 days. The freeze-thaw recovery of platelets was 73 +/- 8 percent. Frozen platelets exhibited a significant decrease in platelet adhesion as compared to fresh platelets from the same unit; adhesion of frozen platelets was only 53 percent of that of fresh platelets (p = 0.04). A slight, but insignificant decrease was noted with platelets stored for 5 days (86%, p = 0.197). These findings indicate that frozen-thawed platelets have a significant defect in adhesive capacity as compared to fresh platelets, and that platelets stored under blood bank conditions for 5 days maintain adhesive capacity well.

Membrane Glycoproteins in Cryopreserved Platelets

“…creased resistance to hypotonic stress, loss of dense granule pool ATP, and changes in morphology [7][8][9][10][11][12]. In addition, we have recently reported a defect in adhesive capacity to subendothelium in cryopreserved platelets [13]. Comparing quantitative adhesion of cryopreserved platelets to fresh platelets from the same unit of whole blood, we found a 40% reduction in adhesive capacity of the cryopreserved platelets.…”

“…This reduction in GPIb-positive pla telets is accompanied by a significant reduction in aggrega tion response to the agonist ristocetin, but the changes in GPIb do not seem sufficient to produce such an impairment of function. We have previously shown a reduction in ad hesive capacity of cryopreserved platelets [13], Both the re duced aggregation response and decreased adhesive capac ity may be related to the loss or structural change in surface GPIb during cryopreservation. Only DMSO 5% was uti lized as cryopreservative in our experiments, so whether other cryopreservatives such as glycerol might produce a similar loss is not known [25,26].…”

In vitro thromboelastometric evaluation of the efficacy of frozen platelet transfusion

“…To date, the few published studies have shown morphological and functional defects in previously frozen platelets when these cells were tested in vitro. Frozen platelet adhesion was significantly decreased in relation to fresh platelets and platelets that had been stored for 5 days [12]. Recovery, survival [13] and other in vitro function markers, such as stimulus-response coupling [14], aggregation [15], granule release and pH were also impaired in frozen platelets.…”

Generation of Platelet Microparticles after Cryopreservation of Apheresis Platelet Concentrates Contributes to Hemostatic Activity

“…Frozen platelet adhesion is significantly decreased when compared to both fresh platelets and platelets stored for >5 days [21]. Recovery, survival, and other in vitro function markers, such as stimulus-response coupling, aggregation, granule release, and pH, are also impaired in frozen platelets [22,23,24].…”