Potential Involvement of Free Radical Reactions in Inactivating Antigen Presenting Cells by Ultraviolet-B Irradiation

Repeated transfusions of platelet concentrates (PC) lead to alloimmunization and platelet refractoriness was subsequently observed in about 40% of recipients [1]. Contaminating leukocytes in platelet concentrates are known to play an essential role in alloimmunization. Prevention of alloimmunization by reducing the number of leukocytes contaminating PC has been achieved using leukocyte removing filters with encouraging results [2]. However, introduction of leukocyte removing filters into clinical transfusion meets with some problems such as complexity in filtration procedures, increase in cost, and loss of platelets during filtration.