The safety of pathogen-reduced platelet transfusions in critically ill term and preterm neonates.

Background And Objectives: Platelet transfusions carry an important risk of infection transmission. The Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology system for platelets uses riboflavin and UV light to introduce irreparable lesions into nucleic acids, thereby inhibiting pathogen replication and inactivating white blood cells. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of pathogen-reduced platelet transfusions (PRPTs) in critically ill infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Caribbean.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study of the use of Mirasol PRPTs in patients admitted to the NICU of the general hospital in Curaçao from February 2016 to April 2023.

Results: A total of 208 PRPTs were administered to 46 patients (median [range] transfusions per patient: 3 [1-24]). Three patients were born term, and 43 were born preterm (median [range] gestational age: 27 4/7 weeks [24 6/7-36 6/7]). PRPTs were well-tolerated and no complications occurred, especially no signs of haemolysis nor any signs of new infection within 24 h after transfusion. Twenty-one of 46 patients (46%) died during their admittance. None of the deaths were deemed related to PRPT.

Conclusion: Mirasol PRPT appears to be safe for use in critically ill neonates, including extremely preterm neonates.