Autologous cryopreserved platelets and prophylaxis of bleeding in autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Autologous platelets were harvested and cryopreserved in eight consecutive patients elected for ablative chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for solid malignancy. There was a 19% loss in platelet count after the freeze thaw and wash procedure; with an in vitro functional loss of 40-60%. No correlation could be found for individual platelet transfusions between in vitro functional tests and in vivo recovery. Six consecutive patients received a total of 16 autologous platelet transfusions in the aplastic phase of ABMT. No bleeding was observed during the study period and there was no CMV infection in the recipients. While improvement in freezing and subsequent handling is desirable, autologous cryopreserved platelets can safely be used for the prophylaxis of bleeding during aplasia in patients treated with ABMT.