Does Suspending Cold Stored Platelets Concentrates in Platelet Additive Solution Carry Any Superior in Vitro or in...

Cold storage and platelet additive solution are two strategies to enhance platelet concentrates storage conditions and increase shelf life. In cold storage of platelets, dilution of fibrinogen with platelet additive solution limits platelets activation and extends the shelf life. This study aimed to examine the in vitro quality of apheresis platelet concentrates (PCs) maintained at cold temperatures, with and without platelet additive solution (PAS), and to assess their therapeutic value in oncology patients. Twenty apheresis PCs were stored at (2-6°C) for 18 days, divided into 2 groups; A1 group suspended in 100% plasma tested on days (0, 3, 5, 10 and 18) of storage and A2 group suspended in 65% SSP+ PAS tested on days (0, 3, 5, 14 and 18) of storage. Platelet count, MPV, pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO3, bacterial examination, glucose, lactate, LDH, annexin expression and platelet aggregation were investigated. Cold stored SSP+ PCs were transfused to oncology patients on day 3 and corrected count increment was calculated. The mean pH of SSP+ units on all days until day 10 ranged between 6.67 and 7.53. Platelet aggregation response to agonists (ADP & Collagen) and swirling were maintained in SSP+ PCs up to day 18. Platelet metabolism pH and pO2 levels were comparable between 2 groups with no statistically significant difference in all days of storage, but HCO3 and pCO2 levels were significantly lower in group A2 (65%PAS) than A1 (100% plasma) in all days of storage except day 18. Cold storage up to 10 days was comparable to day 5 room temperature stored PC in 100% plasma with no significant difference regarding studied parameters except for platelet count, LDH production rate, Glucose consumption rate, Lactate production rate and Annexin expression % which were significantly lower on day 10 than day 5 of subgroup A1 (100% plasma). Platelet function and metabolism were maintained up to 10 days of SSP+ apheresis cold stored PCs.