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Old Fri May 6, 2011, 04:55 PM
Neil Cuadra Neil Cuadra is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 2,553
Neel,

I would certainly follow the doctor's advice. There's a difference between which blood and platelets are compatible and which are most desirable, and that may explain it.

Platelet refractoriness means that platelet transfusions become less effective over time. This happens to some but not all patients. There are a couple of ways to reduce the risk of refractoriness. One is to use HLA-matched platelets. That's not the same as blood types, but the idea is the same: test the donor platelets for antigen matches with the patient. Another is to use single-donor platelets, meaning that the same donor keeps giving platelets to the same patient. That way the patient doesn't build up antibodies to the platelets of multiple donors.

If there are sufficient matched platelets for your father then there's no problem. But if they can't always get him the platelets he needs, make sure the doctors know that you are available to donate.
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