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KNOW ABOUT YOUR PLATELETS

Every normal person has 5.5 Litres of BLOOD. Blood is made up of

  1. RED BLOOD CELLS
  2. WHITE BLOOD CELLS
  3. PLATELETS
  4. PLASMA (a light yellow liquid)
  • RBC help to transport Oxygen to various parts of the body. There are about 3.5 - 5.5 million RBCs /cu.mm of blood.
  • WBC helps to fight against infections. There are about 4000 - 7000 WBCs/cu.mm of blood.
  • Platelets prevent bleeding from wounds and helps blood to clot. The Platelet count in a normal human is about 1.5 - 4.5 lakhs/cu.mm of blood.
  • Plasma contains protiens and coagulation factors.

Platelet transfusions are very important while taking care of Cancer Pateints. A Platelet transfusion is indicated if the platelet count is below 20, 000/cu.mm of blood with clinical evidence of bleeding like:

  • Nose bleeds
  • Palatal bleeding
  • Conjunctivital bleedings
  • Skin bleedings
  • Vomiting blood
  • Passing blood in stools

If the Platelet count is 20, 000/cu.mm of blood and there is NO evidence of bleeding, then platelet transfusions can be witheld. The Platelet count in Cancer Patients can get reduced to below 20, 000/cu.mm of blood due to the following reasons:

  • Due to Cancer
  • Due to use of anti-platelet drugs like BRUFEN, ASPRIN etc.
  • Due to Chemotherapy
  • Due to infection.

Platelet transfusions are indicated in such conditions. The basic idea of giving platelet transfusions is to raise the platelet count sufficiently high in order to prevent bleeding.

Platelet transfusions can be given in two ways.

1. RANDOM single donor platelets i.e. platelets obtained after donation of 350ml of blood. Platelets from 6 donors of the same blood group are pooled together. All these donors are screened for:

  • Hepatitis B
  • HIV
  • VDRL
  • Hepatitis C

The pooled random single donor platelets are transfused using a platelet filter. This filter will remove WBC which are not required by the patient.

2. A second method of collecting platelets is by connecting a healthy donor to a machine. This is called plateletpheresis, only the platelets are removed and remaining RBC, WBC and plasma are given back to the donor.

The plateletpheresis procedurd gives 1.5 - 2.5 lakhs of platelets immediately to the patient. Pooled single random platelet units will give only 20, 000 - 50, 000 platelet increment.

For patients undergoing transplant for cancer, platelet transfusions have to be given over a period of 21 days at the rate of 6 - 8 units per day (OR) the platelet yield from a plateletpheresis done on a compatible donor.

Without platelet support the doctors may not be able to save patients. Hence it is very important to understand its value.

You are welcome to clarify any doubts about platelet donations at platelet@bloodserve.com .