The current status of platelet and granulocyte transfusions

During the past decade significant progress has been made in the preparation and use of platelet and granulocyte transfusions. The most important indication for platelet transfusion is the treatment of bleeding episodes in thrombocytopenic patients due to bone marrow aplasia, leukaemia, or chemotherapy of various malignancies. The clinical efficacy of granulocyte transfusions has been evaluated in several controlled clinical trials. The results indicate that granulocyte transfusions were most effective in patients who have severe bone marrow failure which did not improve during antibiotic therapy. ABO and HLA typing are carried out on donors and recipients. Due to the high polymorphism of the HLA system, it is, however, difficult to find a compatible donor-recipient pair.