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Importance Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass often require platelet transfusions for bleeding. Platelets are routinely stored at room temperature (20-24 °C) for up to 5 to 7 days; however, cold storage (1-6 °C) may allow for increased storage duration without loss of hemostatic function. Objective To determine the maximum cold-storage duration, up to 21 days, for which cold-stored platelets (CSPs) are noninferior or superior in hemostatic efficacy to room-temperature platelets (RTPs) when transfused in actively bleeding patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Design, Setting, and Participants A phase 3, multicenter, randomized, partially blinded, adaptive, noninferiority, storage duration–ranging trial conducted in pediatric and adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with planned cardiopulmonary bypass at 27 sites in the US and Australia from December 2021 to March 2025. Statistical analysis was conducted from September 9 to October 3, 2025. Intervention Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive CSPs with a maximum of 21 days of storage vs RTPs with a maximum of 7 days of storage. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was a hemostatic efficacy score with values ranging from 1 to 5 and higher values indicating greater bleeding. The noninferiority margin was 1 point. The success criterion was met if at least 1 cold-storage duration of 7 days or more had a posterior probability of noninferiority of at least 97.5%. The secondary outcome was 24-hour chest tube output. Results Of the 1000 patients who underwent platelet transfusion, 989 were included in the primary analysis (650 CSPs and 339 RTPs). The cohort had a mean (SD) age of 42.1 (30.1) years and 67.8% were male. CSPs were noninferior to RTPs for the primary outcome, with a probability of greater than 99.9% for all cold-storage durations. Pooled across storage durations, CSPs had a mean difference from RTPs of 0.09 (95% credible interval, −0.06 to 0.23). Median (IQR) chest tube output at 24 hours (8.9 mL/kg [5.2-15.4] for CSPs vs 8.4 mL/kg [5.5-15.9] for RTPs; difference in medians, 0.4 [95% CI, −1.0 to 1.5]) was not statistically different between study groups. In a post hoc analysis, as all storage durations were noninferior, considering the CSPs as a single group, the hemostatic efficacy score was similar between both groups: mean (SD) of 3.08 (1.15) CSPs vs 2.99 (1.10) RTPs. There were no differences in venous or arterial thrombotic events, transfusion-associated adverse events, acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure, septic shock, and mortality between the study groups, except for increased reexploration rates in the CSP group. Conclusions and Relevance For patients undergoing cardiac surgery, CSPs stored up to 21 days are noninferior to RTPs for the control of active surgical bleeding. Use of CSPs may allow for increased availability of platelets by reducing wastage and shortages and may allow for incorporation of platelets into inventory at locations where platelets cannot be maintained due to the 5- to 7-day shelf life of RTPs. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04834414

ABSTRACTImmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and microvascular occlusion secondary to acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency. Contemporary data regarding iTTP treatment practices in the US, including the use of caplacizumab, are lacking. We aimed to characterize the demographics and therapies, including medications and apheresis practices, in patients with iTTP in the US. We retrospectively analyzed iTTP cases at 15 sites in the US that provide comprehensive care for patients with iTTP. The time‐period assessed was from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. Our primary objective was to analyze data by iTTP episode, inclusive of initial episodes and relapses. A total of 390 iTTP episodes were reported for 280 unique individuals (187 females, 93 males). Thirty‐day mortality was 3.7% (14/374), and 6‐month mortality was 7.4% (27/367). TPE details were reported for 343 episodes, among which 261 underwent at least one procedure (median 6, IQR 3–11). Among the 261 episodes with at least one therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) performed, 82.0% (214/261) used only plasma. Caplacizumab was used either alone or in combination with other agents in 43 (11.0%) episodes. Management strategies for iTTP remain varied across centers in the US, with a variety of combinations for TPE replacement fluids and therapeutic agents, as well as limited use of caplacizumab. Further research and standardization of treatment regimens may further reduce mortality in this condition.

AbstractPrior studies have suggested that immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) may display seasonal variation; however, methodologic limitations and sample sizes have diminished the ability to perform a rigorous assessment. This 5‐year retrospective study assessed the epidemiology of iTTP and determined whether it displays a seasonal pattern. Patients with both initial and relapsed iTTP (defined as a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type motifs 13 activity <10%) from 24 tertiary centers in Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and the US were included. Seasons were defined as: Northern Hemisphere—winter (December–February); spring (March–May); summer (June–August); autumn (September–November) and Southern Hemisphere—winter (June–August); spring (September–November); summer (December–February); autumn (March–May). Additional outcomes included the mean temperature in months with and without an iTTP episode at each site. A total of 583 patients experienced 719 iTTP episodes. The observed proportion of iTTP episodes during the winter was significantly greater than expected if equally distributed across seasons (28.5%, 205/719, 25.3%–31.9%; p = .03). Distance from the equator and mean temperature deviation both positively correlated with the proportion of iTTP episodes during winter. Acute iTTP episodes were associated with the winter season and colder temperatures, with a second peak during summer. Occurrence during winter was most pronounced at sites further from the equator and/or with greater annual temperature deviations. Understanding the etiologies underlying seasonal patterns of disease may assist in discovery and development of future preventative therapies and inform models for resource utilization.

AbstractSince vaccination for SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus started, the trajectory of patient numbers infected with the virus has improved once; however, variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 have emerged and more people have been infected; therefore, pandemic status is still far from resolution. Government and social efforts to prevent coronavirus infection continue in most states in the US and globally even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared some restriction relief for fully vaccinated people in March 2021. Healthcare institutions and various professional organizations have developed guidelines or policies to prevent the spread of these coronaviruses in the setting of apheresis. In this report, the issues that apheresis services may encounter under the current COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus disease) pandemic will be discussed with potential strategies that can be adapted for efficient and optimum use of apheresis resources.

AbstractImportanceNeuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients' response to therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is currently incompletely characterized.ObjectiveOur study aims to understand the clinical status improvement of neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients treated with TPE.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis is a multicenter retrospective study conducted between 1 January 2003 and 31 July 2017 at 13 US hospitals performing apheresis procedures. Subjects studied were diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica/neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder who received TPE during presentation with acute disease.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was clinical status improvement in patients treated with TPE. Secondary measures were procedural and patient characteristics associated with response to treatment.ResultsWe evaluated 114 patients from 13 institutions. There was a female predilection. The largest ethnic group affected was non‐Hispanic Caucasian. The average age of diagnosis was 43.1 years. The average time to diagnosis was 3.1 years. On average, five procedures were performed during each treatment series. The most commonly performed plasma volume exchange was 1.0 to 1.25 using 5% albumin as replacement fluid. Most patients (52%) did not require an additional course of TPE and noted “mild” to “moderate” clinical status improvement. Maximal symptom improvement appeared by the fourth or fifth TPE treatment.Conclusion and RelevanceTPE improved the clinical status of patients. Adults responded more favorably than children. Procedural characteristics, including number of TPEs, plasma volume exchanged, and replacement fluid used, were similar between institutions. TPE was well‐tolerated and had a low severe adverse event profile.

Background: Anti‐muscle specific kinase antibody positive (MuSK Ab) myasthenia gravis (MG) patients are known to have different clinical course compared to anti‐acetylcholine receptor Ab positive MG patients. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been reported to be effective; however, little is known of the response and of TPE procedural information. An ASFA Apheresis Registry was developed to analyze those data. Methods: The study collected detailed de‐identified patient data, TPE procedures, and treatment outcome/complications. Collected data was described in aggregate. Results: A total of 15 MuSK Ab MG patients with exacerbation of MG symptoms, 13 females/2 males, median age 44, were investigated. Thirty TPE courses (median 5 procedures/course, total 145 procedures) were evaluated. All TPE procedures were performed with citrate anticoagulation, 1 − 1.25 plasma volume exchange in 100% fluid balance, and 90% of courses used only albumin as replacement. Calcium was added to albumin or given orally as needed. TPE was performed every other day in 55% of courses. Adverse events occurred in 3.4% of procedures. Ten patients (67%) experienced relapses within a median of 7 weeks. Objective symptoms were resolved in more than 75% of courses. Overall subjective improvement rates were 94.1%/93.3% after 3/4 TPE procedures, respectively. Thirty‐one percent of patients responded poorly with minimal recovery. Conclusion: Overall subjective improvement was seen up to 94% of patients after one course of TPE. Some patients were poor‐responders. Five TPE may be adequate for initial course with additional TPE as needed. Based upon this preliminary data, we will modify our future data collection. J. Clin. Apheresis 32:5–11, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PurposeWilson's disease is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that results in accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, cornea and kidney. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been used to remove copper and provide a bridge to liver transplantation. We report here the collective experiences through the ASFA apheresis registry on Wilson's disease.MethodsThe ASFA apheresis registry is a multi‐center registry study. Both prospective and retrospective data, with the latter involving data collection back to January 2000 are entered in the registry. The registry includes patient demographics, apheresis procedural information, treatment schedules, and treatment outcomes and complications.ResultsA total of 10 patients (3 males and 7 females) with Wilson's disease treated between 2005 and 2013 were included. Median age of first diagnosis and first TPE were 16 and 17 years, respectively. Via central venous access, these patients underwent a total of 43 TPEs; the median number of TPE procedures per patient was 3.5. All of the TPEs used ACD‐A as anticoagulation, 42/43 TPEs targeted 1–1.25 plasma volumes, and 41/43 TPEs were performed with 100% fluid balance. Post TPE procedures, 9 patients underwent liver transplantation; all 10 patients had at least a 6‐month survival.ConclusionsAll 10 patients with Wilson's disease who underwent TPE had a positive outcome in terms of 6‐month survival. In this first report of the ASFA apheresis registry study, we have demonstrated the value of using this registry to collect apheresis‐related patient outcomes from multiple centers. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:11–15, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.