Platelet activation during preparation of platelet concentrates: a comparison of the platelet‐rich plasma and the buffy coat methods

Abstract

The activation of platelets during the preparation of platelet concentrates (PCs) by two methods was compared. To eliminate interdonor differences, 2 units of whole blood were pooled and subsequently divided into two batches. From one batch, the platelets were harvested as pelleted platelets from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and from the other as nonpelleted platelets from the buffy coat (BC). The activation of platelets in these PCs was studied immediately after preparation and during storage for up to 9 days at 22 degrees C with gentle agitation. The binding of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against the GP IIb/IIIa complex and against activation-dependent antigens (GMP 140 from the alpha granules and a 53-kDa glycoprotein from the lysosomal granules) was measured. Beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) release was also determined. Disc-to-sphere transformation was quantitated by measuring on an aggregometer the difference in light transmission during stirring at different rates and also by light microscopy. Immediately after preparation, platelets derived from PRP had a more spheric morphology (p less than 0.01), had a higher beta-TG release (p less than 0.01), bound more MoAbs against GP IIb/IIIa (p less than 0.01), and expressed more GMP 140 and 53-kDa glycoprotein (p less than 0.01) than did BC-derived platelets. However, these differences had disappeared after 2 days of storage. It was concluded that, immediately after preparation, PRP-derived platelets are more activated than BC-derived platelets. This is most likely a result of the pelleting that follows the second high-speed centrifugation of the PRP.

Platelet Activation in Stored Platelet Concentrates: Comparision of Two Methods Preparation

“…Heaton et al [4] compared components prepared by the PRP-PC and BC methods. The results of [5] were also similar and reported WBC contamination/unit in PRP-PC and BC. The results of both the above studies had similar results regarding WBC count/unit as compared to present study, thus highlighting the advantage of BC when compared to PRP-PC as regards to leukocyte contamination.…”

“…The present paper describes an in vitro comparison of both preparations. The studies suggested that the degree of in vitro activation as evidenced by the expression of CD62P and Annexin V binding were dependent on the different preparative methods [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]17,18]. We found that the extent of activation was significantly higher in PRP-PCs than in BCs.…”

“…Subjects studied: Whereas several studies have been performed concerning the functional and quality properties of BCs and PRP-PCs [6,8,5]. Heaton et al [4] compared components prepared by the PRP-PC and BC methods.…”

“…Platelet transfusion therapy has played an important role in the management of patients [2,4]. Today, platelet concentrates are routinely manufactured from whole blood by differential centrifugation buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates (BC) or by platelet rich plasma-platelet concentrates (PRP-PC) and plateletpheresis [5][6][7]. Whereas in 1970 and 1985, the use of BC exceeded that of PRP-PC by far.…”

Early increase in DcR2 expression and late activation of caspases in the platelet storage lesion

“…The two main methods currently used to prepare platelet concentrates from healthy donors are the buffy coat (multiple donors) and the apheresis (single donor) methods. 1 In some countries, leukocyte depletion of platelet concentrates is performed systematically by using a filtration method. In France, the number of residual leukocytes per bag must be lower than 1 × 10 6 per concentrate that otherwise contains more than 2 × 10 11 platelets.…”