Cytotoxic antibody complicating platelet support in acute leukemia. Response to chemotherapy

D. Green, A. Tiro, J. Basiliere and K. K. Mittal

Lymphocytotoxic or thrombocytolytic antibodies were detected in 11 of 25 thrombocytopenic patients receiving repeated platelet transfusions. Platelet survival times were reduced in these patients (half-life [T/2], 32 hours) as compared to patients without antibody (T/2, 51 hours, P less than .05). In one woman with acute myeloblastic leukemia and a potent platelet antibody, combination chemotherapy resulted in a profound decrease in circulating gamma-globulin and concurrent disappearance of the cytotoxic antibody. The survival of transfused platelets in this patient was dramatically improved, and bleeding was controlled.