Redistribution of Platelets During Discontinous Flow Platelet Pheresis

Abstract

Greater numbers of [human] platelets were recovered during discontinuous flow centrifugation than can be simply accounted for by the decrease in total circulating platelets in the donor. There was a linear relationship between the logarithm of the circulating platelet count and the number of plateletpheresis bowls filled. The disappearance of platelets from the peripheral circulation occurred at a greater rate in splenectomized donors than in normal donors, and the rate of platelet disappearance in normal donors was less than what would be expected if there were no in vivo platelet storage pools. The redistribution of platelets from the spleen in normal donors during the time course of the procedure is suggested.