Two-year outcomes following a randomised platelet transfusion trial in preterm infants

Assess mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age in children who participated in the PlaNeT-2/MATISSE (Platelets for Neonatal Transfusion - 2/Management of Thrombocytopenia in Special Subgroup) study, which reported that a higher platelet transfusion threshold was associated with significantly increased mortality or major bleeding compared to a lower one.

Randomised clinical trial, enrolling from June 2011 to August 2017. Follow-up was complete by January 2020. Caregivers were not blinded; however, outcome assessors were blinded to treatment group.

43 level II/III/IV neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across UK, Netherlands and Ireland.

660 infants born at less than 34 weeks' gestation with platelet counts less than 50×10⁹/L.

Infants were randomised to undergo a platelet transfusion at platelet count thresholds of 50×10⁹/L (higher threshold group) or 25×10⁹/L (lower threshold group).

Our prespecified long-term follow-up outcome was a composite of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (developmental delay, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, profound hearing or vision loss) at 2 years of corrected age.

Follow-up data were available for 601 of 653 (92%) eligible participants. Of the 296 infants assigned to the higher threshold group, 147 (50%) died or survived with neurodevelopmental impairment, as compared with 120 (39%) of 305 infants assigned to the lower threshold group (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.17, p=0.017).

Infants randomised to a higher platelet transfusion threshold of 50×10⁹/L compared with 25×10⁹/L had a higher rate of death or significant neurodevelopmental impairment at a corrected age of 2 years. This further supports evidence of harm caused by high prophylactic platelet transfusion thresholds in preterm infants.

ISRCTN87736839.