Severe platelet deficiencies may be managed with transfusions of whole blood or, in the USA, with transfusions of platelet cryoprecipitate - this helps to control the anaemia which occurs as a consequence of haemorrhage and which is the life threatening sympton that required correction (rather than the thrombocytopenia). With both techniques however, it is likely that the transfused platelets have only a short half life in the recipient. | Severe platelet deficiencies may be managed with transfusions of whole blood or, in the USA, with transfusions of platelet cryoprecipitate - this helps to control the anaemia which occurs as a consequence of haemorrhage and which is the life threatening sympton that required correction (rather than the thrombocytopenia). With both techniques however, it is likely that the transfused platelets have only a short half life in the recipient. |