Frequency of Adverse Effects Associated with Platelet Apheresis in Donors; An Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Platelet apheresis Involves taking blood from the donor, processing it into components, separating the platelets and returning the blood back to donor. It is a safe procedure, but it can still be associated with certain adverse events that requires attention.

Objective: To assess the frequency of adverse effects associated with platelet apheresis in donors at a tertiary care hospital.

Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Children's Hospital and University of Child Health Sciences, Lahore, from September to December 2024, included 80 healthy donors undergoing platelet apheresis. The data was recorded on demographics, medical history, and occurrence of adverse events using a self-designed proforma. The frequencies of categorical variables were calculated. The association between gender and frequency of adverse events was evaluated using a chi-square test.

Results: The donor population was predominantly male (95%) with a mean age of 28.9 years. The overall adverse event rate was 10%, in which tingling sensation (7.5%) was most common local reaction followed by loss of consciousness and dizziness (3.8% each) and hypotension (2.5%), that were most common systemic reactions. The chi-square reported (p=0.494), which indicated no significant association between gender and occurrence of adverse events.

Conclusion: Platelet apheresis is generally safe, with low incidence of mild adverse reactions that can be managed through comprehensive donor monitoring. Improvement in donor safety SOP’s is essential to maintain the safety profile of platelet apheresis.