Assessment of platelet indices, beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor IV in platelet concentrate at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Platelet concentrate transfusion remains a major therapeutic care for patient with hematological disorders. However, optimal therapeutic effect has been a major challenge. Blood donor characteristics and processing procedure remain major areas of research. Hence, this research assessed the platelet functional parameters, beta-thromboglobulin and Platelets factor IV in donors and platelet concentrate. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study among prospective blood donors for platelet concentrate. Seventy-one prospective blood donors were recruited for this study with mean age of 34.8. Whole blood and aliquot from concentrate were collected for platelet functional parameters using Semi-automated Haematology analyzer, pH using potentiometric method while Beta-thromboglobulin and Platelet factor IV using ELISA-based assays. There was high quality prospective blood donors recruited for platelet concentrate for the current study. Furthermore, there was significant increase (P-value < 0.00) in platelet count, plateletcrit (PCT), β-thromboglobulin (BTG), Platelets factor IV (PF4) and platelet large cell concentration (PLCC) in the first 12 h of harvest and running through 5 days of storage as pre-transfusion relative to the baseline values. Conversely, there was significant decrease in Mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width coefficient of variation (PDW-CV) and Platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR). Interestingly, fall in pH for the first 12 h was significant compared to 5 days longitudinal drop in pH. These findings indicate a slight but steady increase in platelet activation markers as storage time progresses. Platelets in Platelet concentrates were of low therapeutic quality due to significant platelet activation however, transfusion within 2 h of harvest and not more than 6 h post-harvest can guarantee better patient outcome. The study further established significance of including pH in evaluating platelet concentrates pre-transfusion to optimize transfusion outcome if transfusion is delayed beyond 6 h post-harvest.