Assessment of metabolic and hemostatic profile of apheresis platelet concentrates: does the storage medium play a role?

Background: The impact of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) on metabolic and hemostatic profile of treated platelets remains a subject of debate. Platelets Additive Solutions (PASs) are suggested as more appropriate storage medium compared to plasma. To investigate this in terms of zero heterogeneity PRT-treated and control apheresis platelet concentrates (PCs), collected from the same donors and stored in PAS and plasma respectively, were analyzed.

Materials and methods: In the first arm of the study six double dose-apheresis PCs were produced, split and stored in plasma, while in the second arm six split double dose-apheresis PCs from the same donors, were produced and stored in PAS. Control and PRT-treated PCs resulted in both arms. Metabolic and hemostatic markers were evaluated in all the examined groups on days 1, 3 and 5.

Results: A time dependent increased metabolism both in PAS and plasma-stored PCs was evident in PRT-treated PCs. However, the metabolic profile was better preserved in PCs stored in PAS, as higher pH (6.8 vs 6.5, p=0.007) and lower lactate levels (12.6 vs 17.8 mmol/L, p=0.009) were documented in PRT-treated PAS-PCs compared to plasma-PCs, on day 5. A time dependent decreased hemostatic capacity regardless the storage medium was evident in PRT-treated PCs, (PAS-PCs MCF, p=0.004 and plasma-PCs MCF, p=0.007). Similar results were obtained in control PCs.

Discussion: The use of PAS preserves the metabolic profile of PCs more adequately compared to plasma but has no effect on the hemostatic profile. The clinical relevance of these findings needs further investigation.