Collection, Preservation and Transfusion of Platelets

Abstract

RECENT developments in the therapy of certain types of cancer with growth-suppressing agents, which are usually myelotoxic, as well as the threat of mass exposure to ionizing radiation, have focused increasing attention on the problem of collection, preservation and transfusion of platelets. Thus, bleeding due to thrombocytopenia is one of the most significantly limiting factors in the chemotherapy of leukemia and lymphoma. It is theoretically possible that, if a drastic but temporary depression of abnormal cell production could be obtained by various chemotherapeutic agents even at the expense of severe bone-marrow injury, lengthy remissions would occur in certain types of . . .