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Comparison of a therapeutic platelet transfusion strategy to a prophylactic platelet transfusion strategy in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), a single centre experience

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 57, pages 122–124 (2022)Cite this article

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In 2016, the British Journal of Haematology platelet transfusion guideline suggests not giving prophylactic platelet transfusions to well ASCT patients with no bleeding [1]. This recommendation is further supported by the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline [2]. Despite these recommendations, this is not an established standard of care. Moreover, there is a paucity of data relating to a therapeutic platelet transfusion approach in ASCT in the real world. Platelet transfusions are not without risk and major bleeding events may not correlate with the platelet count [3, 4]. In January 2019 we adopted a therapeutic platelet transfusion strategy. Our study aim was to review the number of platelet units transfused and the number of bleeding events and compare them to a time when we were using a prophylactic platelet transfusion approach.

This study is a single centre, retrospective review of patients undergoing ASCT from January 2017 to December 2020. January 2019–December 2020 is known as the therapeutic era (TE) and has been compared to consecutive patients undergoing ASCT from January 2017 to December 2018, the prophylactic era (PE). Patients transplanted for amyloidosis were excluded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, QLD, Australia

    Camille Savoia, Nicholas McKeough, Beth Hickey & Tara Cochrane

  2. Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia

    Camille Savoia, Beth Hickey & Tara Cochrane

  3. Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia

    Beth Hickey

Authors
  1. Camille Savoia
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  2. Nicholas McKeough
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  3. Beth Hickey
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  4. Tara Cochrane
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Contributions

CS—collected the data and drafted and revised the paper. NM—collected the data and contributed to the implementation of the platelet transfusion strategy in the clinic. BH—collected the data and maintained the transplant database. TC—developed and implemented the therapeutic platelet transfusion strategy, analysed the data, drafted and revised the paper and supervised the project.

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Correspondence to Camille Savoia.

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Savoia, C., McKeough, N., Hickey, B. et al. Comparison of a therapeutic platelet transfusion strategy to a prophylactic platelet transfusion strategy in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), a single centre experience. Bone Marrow Transplant 57, 122–124 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-021-01482-9

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