Management of patients refractory to platelet transfusion.

Objective: To present a current assessment and practical approach to the diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions.

Design: A task force was convened by the College of American Pathologists under the auspices of the Transfusion Medicine Resource Committee for the purposes of outlining current concepts in the definition and diagnosis of this difficult clinical management problem and selection of the optimal platelet component for these patients.

Results: This article represents a contemporary approach to the diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions. This document is based on a current literature review and dialog among members of the task force convened to address the subject.

Conclusions: It is hoped that this document will represent a resource and practical approach to the issue of diagnosis and management of patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions.