This trial randomly assigned hematology patients receiving intensive chemotherapy or undergoing hemopoietic stem-cell transplantation to either a no-prophylaxis platelet transfusion strategy or standard prophylaxis with platelet transfusions. The incidence of bleeding was lower in the prophylaxis group than in the no-prophylaxis group (43% vs. 50%). Only 59% of patients received a platelet transfusion in the no-prophylaxis group versus 89% in the prophylaxis group. The trial provides evidence for the benefit of prophylactic platelet transfusions in hematology patients in agreement with the results of a previous smaller trial from Germany (Wandt H et al. Lancet 2012;380:1309-16; Nataonline comment).
– Lawrence Tim Goodnough