[Indications and contraindications for platelet transfusions in patients with thrombocytopenia]

For more than 40 years now, platelet transfusion has provided life-saving supportive therapy to hematological patients with impaired hematopoiesis, bone marrow aplasia induced by chemotherapy, surgical patients and patients with a variety of disorders of platelet count and function. More than 2.9 million platelet components are transfused each year in Europe and 57000 in Croatia. Patients with thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy treated at intensive care units pose special challenges. It is essential to assess the potential risk of thrombogenic side effects over the benefit of stopping and preventing bleeding before platelet transfusion in these patients. Although transfusion practices including indications and contraindications for transfusion, the dose of platelets transfused and ztransfusion trigger' are variable and in some cases the best practices are not fully known, greater harmonization of policies might promote the quality, safety and optimal use of platelet products.