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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 March 2009
During the past 5 years, hospitals in several countries have experienced a significant increase in the use of platelet concentrates. In the Netherlands, e.g., the number of donor units of platelet concentrates rose from 59,000 in 1981 to almost 97,000 in 1984 at a cost of 5 million guilders (US $2,800,000) annually. This increased utilization has been attributed to such factors as chemo- and radiotherapy, major surgery, severe trauma, and bone marrow transplantation.
However, there was concern that in a significant number of patients, platelet concentrates are administered for no good reason, that the effect of platelet transfusions is often not adequately controlled, that insufficient care is taken to prevent side effects (notably alloimmunization), and that the quality control applied to platelet suspension is not optimal.