Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Routine Screening Method for Microparticles in Platelet Transfusions
09:49

Routine Screening Method for Microparticles in Platelet Transfusions

Published on: January 31, 2018

Prophylactic platelet transfusion in children with thrombocytopenic disorders: a retrospective review

M Ferrara1, L Capozzi, A Coppola

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.

Hematology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|July 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study found that using lower platelet count thresholds for prophylactic platelet transfusions is safe in children with various thrombocytopenic disorders. A restrictive transfusion policy, guided by bleeding events, proved effective for managing these conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Hematology
  • Transfusion Medicine

Background:

  • Thrombocytopenic disorders in children often necessitate platelet transfusions.
  • Determining optimal platelet count thresholds for prophylactic transfusions is crucial for patient safety and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of low platelet count thresholds for prophylactic platelet transfusions in pediatric patients.
  • To assess transfusion policies based on bleeding events versus absolute platelet counts in different thrombocytopenic conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective evaluation of 673 children with diverse thrombocytopenic disorders.
  • Analysis of transfusion triggers, including platelet counts and bleeding events.
  • Comparison of transfusion strategies across conditions like idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, X-linked thrombocytopenia, hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Main Results:

  • A restrictive prophylactic platelet transfusion policy was demonstrated to be safe across various pediatric thrombocytopenic disorders.
  • In specific conditions, transfusion thresholds were guided by bleeding rather than solely platelet count.
  • Tailored transfusion protocols were applied based on patient stability, bleeding, and infection status.

Conclusions:

  • Low platelet count thresholds for prophylactic transfusions are safe in pediatric patients with various thrombocytopenic disorders.
  • A restrictive transfusion approach, considering clinical factors, is a safe and effective strategy.

More Related Videos

Treatment of Platelet Products with Riboflavin and UV Light: Effectiveness Against High Titer Bacterial Contamination10:32

Treatment of Platelet Products with Riboflavin and UV Light: Effectiveness Against High Titer Bacterial Contamination

Published on: August 24, 2015

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function06:47

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function

Published on: November 8, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Structure and Function of Platelets01:18

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets, with...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...