Hemostatic Effectiveness of Liquid-Preserved and Previously Frozen Human Platelets

Abstract

To determine the effectiveness of various platelet preparations, a single unit of fresh or preserved platelet concentrate was transfused into 42 healthy male volunteers who had been given 650 mg of aspirin 24 hours before, and platelet survival and ability to reduce bleeding time was studied. The bleeding time was reduced by 1 U of platelets stored at 4°C for 24 hours, but they had a short survival. The bleeding time was not reduced by fresh platelets, platelets stored at 22°C for 24 hours, or platelets stored with 5 per cent dimethyl sulfoxide at -150°C for 24 hours, but these platelets had normal life-span. Platelets stored with 6 per cent dimethyl sulfoxide at -80°C for 24 hours had normal life-span and hemostatic effectiveness. Thus, the in vivo effect of aspirin on bleeding time may be corrected by short-lived platelets but may not be corrected by platelets with normal life-span, depending upon their preservation. (N Engl J Med 290:353–358, 1974)