Use of prostacyclin to inhibit activation of platelets during preparation of platelet concentrates

Abstract

Increased utilization of [human] platelet concentrates (PC) has created the possibility that demand for this blood component may exceed supply. It seems possible that this problem could be minimized if platelets could be isolated from whole blood and stored with full retention of hemostatic effectiveness. PC were prepared by adding prostacyclin (PGI2) during the isolation procedure and compared these to PC prepared without addition of PGI2. At concentration 10-7 M, PGI2 inhibited activation of platelets during the process of concentration and resuspension by the criteria of minimal thromboxane production and release of .beta.-thromboglobulin (.beta.-TG), in contrast to concentrates prepared by standard methods. These differences persisted throughout 3 days of storage at room temperature. Whether the quality (hemostatic effectiveness) of concentrated platelets can be improved by pharmacologic means must be studied further.