Prevention of transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease with pathogen‐reduced platelets with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light: a review

Background and Objectives Transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host disease (TA‐GVHD) is a serious complication of blood component transfusion therapy, caused by donor T lymphocytes. γ‐Irradiation or pathogen inactivation methods, capable of inactivating proliferating T cells in blood components, should be selected to prevent TA‐GVHD. This review summarizes the published evidence to support the use of pathogen‐reduced platelets with amotosalen (150 μm) and ultraviolet A light (UVA, 320–400 nm, 3 J/cm2) for preventing TA‐GVHD. Materials and Methods Available literature on the use of pathogen‐reduced platelets to prevent TA‐GVHD was reviewed. Results Observational studies, animal models, in vitro studies and mechanistic studies of pathogen‐reduced platelets with amotosalen and UVA light showed that inactivation of T cells are equal or even superior to γ‐irradiation. Conclusion Pathogen‐reduced platelets with amotosalen and UVA light can be used as a measure to prevent TA‐GVHD.