Abstract:
Objectives: To assess the association of platelet pheresis with occurrence of abnormalities in hematological parameters
and serum electrolyte homeostasis before and after donation.
Study Design and Setting: Prospective cohort study. Department of Pathology, PNS Shifa, Karachi (Jan-Dec 2024).
METHODOLOGY: A total of 126 platelet donors were studied. Patients aged 18–60 years who had a normal CBC, a
platelet count of =200,000/µL and a body weight of at least 50kg were included. Individuals with chronic illness history,
medication affecting hematological parameters, recent infection, prior platelet donations or surgery within the last 6 months
were excluded. Pre-donation CBC and serum electrolytes were measured and then repeated immediate post-donation and
then at one-week and one-month. The sample was calculated by WHO calculator with 5% significance ( ) and 95% power
of the test (1-) with standard deviation ( ) of 0.385, variance ( 2) of 0.148225, a mean serum calcium level prior to
platelet pheresis of 9.91 mg/dL and a post-plateletpheresis of 9.75 mg/dL.
Results: The median-age at donation was 32.0 (IQR: 10.0) years with 122 (98.6%) patients being male and 19 (15.1%)
had a history of previous donations. Haemoglobin (p=0.023), hematocrit (p<0.001), platelet count (p<0.001), serum calcium
(p<0.001) and magnesium (p=0.003) were significantly lower in patients immediately after plateletpheresis. At 1-week
post-donation, only platelet count (p<0.001) was below baseline levels. One month from the plateletpheresis procedure,
all the haematological and electrolyte levels returned to baseline.
Conclusion: Plateletpheresis is a safe procedure with any haematological or electrolyte disturbance post-procedure returning
to normal within one week.
