Therapeutic Complications in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

To the Editor: We would like to add a note of caution about platelet transfusions and alloimmunization to Dr. Gale's otherwise excellent review of acute myelogenous leukemia.¹ His statement that “Most investigators believe that the frequency of alloimmunization to platelets can be decreased by the use of HLA-matched platelet donors, single-donor platelets obtained by platelet-pheresis…and autologous cryopreserved platelets” may be taken as a recommendation that all patients requiring long-term platelet support should receive only pheresis platelets. There are numerous reasons why such a recommendation should be rejected. Blood banks separate the majority of whole-blood donations into component preparations, including platelet.