Circulation and hemostatic function of autologous fresh, liquid-preserved, and cryopreserved baboon platelets transfused to correct an aspirin-induced thrombocytopathy.

BACKGROUND

The survival of fresh and preserved platelets has been used primarily to determine their therapeutic effectiveness. The function of the fresh and preserved platelets has been difficult to assess. In stable thrombocytopenic patients, platelet function of fresh and preserved allogeneic platelets is evaluated by the reduction in bleeding time. In this study of healthy male baboons, both the survival and function of autologous fresh, liquid-preserved, and cryopreserved platelets in the correction of an aspirin-induced thrombocytopathy was evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Five healthy male baboons were studied on eight occasions over a 4-year period. To produce a prolonged bleeding time, the baboon was administered 325 mg of aspirin 18 hours before receiving autologous transfusion. The fresh, liquid-preserved, and previously frozen washed platelets were labeled with (111)In-oxine before autologous transfusion. The autologous, nonaspirinated platelets' ability to reduce the aspirin-induced prolonged bleeding time and increase the shed blood thromboxane B2 level at the template bleeding time site was studied.

RESULTS

Platelets stored at 22 degrees C for 48 hours had in vivo recovery values similar to those platelets stored for 18 hours, and they significantly reduced the bleeding time and increased the shed blood thromboxane level after transfusion. Platelets stored at 22 degrees C for 72 hours had in vivo recovery values similar to those platelets stored for 18 hours, but the bleeding time was not corrected after transfusion, although there was a significant increase in the shed blood thromboxane B2 level. The cryopreserved platelets significantly reduced the bleeding time and significantly increased the shed blood thromboxane level after transfusion. Cryopreserved platelets had better in vivo survival and function than the 5-day liquid-stored platelets.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival of autologous fresh, liquid-preserved, or cryopreserved platelets did not correlate with their function to reduce an increased bleeding time in baboons treated with aspirin.