Circulation and distribution of autotransfused fresh, liquid-preserved and cryopreserved baboon platelets.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Studies were carried out in five healthy male baboons to determine the 111indium oxine (111In-oxine) survival of autologous fresh, liquid-preserved and cryopreserved platelets. Simultaneous organ-distribution studies were performed to determine the percentage uptake of platelets by the spleen and/or liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each of five baboons was transfused, on three different occasions, with autologous fresh platelets stored at 22 degrees C for 18 h, liquid-preserved platelets stored at 22 degrees C for 5 days and washed previously frozen platelets, labelled with 111In-oxine.

RESULTS

In vivo recovery at 2 h was 81% for the fresh platelets, 54% for the previously frozen platelets and 44% for the 5-day-old liquid-preserved platelets. The weighted mean life span was 5.4 days for fresh platelets, 4.2 days for previously frozen platelets and 2 days for liquid preserved platelets. Increased radioactivity was detected over the liver 2 h after transfusion for both the previously frozen and liquid-preserved platelets.

CONCLUSIONS

Cryopreserved platelets and liquid-preserved platelets stored at 22 degrees C for 5 days had reduced survival 2 h post-transfusion and reduced life span values compared to fresh platelets. In addition, the finding of increased radioactivity over the liver in the baboons that received cryopreserved and liquid-preserved platelets suggested that the liver was the site for removal of the non-viable platelets.