Pathogen-inactivation of platelet components with the INTERCEPT Blood System ™: a cohort study

INTERCEPT treatment is used to reduce platelet transfusion associated bacterial infections. Limited data are available in Switzerland.

Patients with thrombocytopenia or thrombocyte dysfunction requiring platelet transfusions were enrolled in a prospective cohort study on safety (primary endpoint) and efficacy (secondary endpoint) of INTERCEPT treated platelets (I-PLTs). I-PLTs were produced from double-dose apheresis products. Data on safety were actively recorded for each transfusion.

A total of 551 I-PLT units (mean platelet dose: 2.6 ± 0.4 × 10(11)/unit) were transfused to 46 patients (mean number of platelet transfusions per patient: 12 ± 12.5). Fifty-one (9%) transfusions were associated with adverse events and 12 (2%) with acute transfusion reactions. Eleven serious adverse events were observed, none considered as related to the administration of I-PLT. Mean 1-4h and 16-24h CCIs were 10.1 ± 8.1 and 3.6 ± 6.6, respectively.

The transfusion of I-PLT was associated with a good safety profile and adequate platelet count increments at 1-4h.