Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Additional and more effective platelets can be gained through plateletphersis which at times equals platelets of 8 units of blood. Patients are exposed to a less number of donors through prescription of such platelets. Although side-effects of plateletphersis are low among donors but side-effects vary at different centers. Illustration of plateletphersis production side-effects at Tehran Blood Bank is the aim.

 Materials and Methods

 This is a retrospective study on plateletphersis donors from 2005 to March 2011. Research was carried on 309 total blood donors who met Iran blood transfusion standards CBC was carried out on all donors and those with Hb and platelet higher than 12.5 and 150.000 were entered into the study. Information regarding aphersis sessions was compiled in donors’ forms including side-effects during platelet donation and they were classified as mild, intermediate and severe according to definition.

 Results

 In the study, 302 cases of plateletphersis were carried out in which 81% of donors were male and 19% female while the mean age of donors was 35.3 ± 9.8 . The most occurring side-effects among donors were mild/medium vasovagal donation reaction 1.6% and citrate poisoning 1.6% of which 0.3% was of the intermediate type.

 Conclusions

 Plateletphersis is safe and occurrence of side-effects is low. Side-effects occur mostly among younger and first time donors.