Trial to Reduce Alloimmunization to Platelets (TRAP)

To determine the best, clinically useful procedure to prevent or minimize platelet alloimmunization as a cause of refractoriness to platelet transfusion in patients undergoing marrow ablative chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hematologic Diseases; Blood Transfusion; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute; Immunization; Blood Platelets
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: platelet transfusion

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Between 1971 and 1980, there was a 598 percent increase in the use of platelet concentrates from 0.41 million to more than 2.86 million annually. In contrast, red cell transfusions in the United States rose concurrently from 6.3 million annually to 9.9 million, an increase of 58 percent. Although red cell transfusions have leveled or even decreased slightly in the past several years, the use of platelets has continued to increase at a rate of at least 5 to 10 percent each year. This dramatic and continued increase in the use of platelet concentrates is largely the result of treating thrombocytopenic cancer patients. In addition, open heart surgery patients and others given massive transfusions also receive substantial platelet support. Nevertheless, it is the chronically transfused thrombocytopenic patient who frequently develops platelet alloimmunization and accounts for a large percentage of the increased demand for platelets. A recent survey in a large transfusion service indicated that 8 percent of the patients had received 35 percent of the random-donor pooled platelet concentrates. Although some alloimmunized patients can be supported by HLA-matched, apheresis-donor platelets, suitably matched donors are not available in sufficient numbers for every patient. Thus, platelet transfusion programs that could prevent, or at least delay platelet alloimmunization would be of substantial benefit.

Limited studies have suggested several approaches that may reduce or prevent platelet alloimmunization: reducing the number of foreign antigens to which a recipient is exposed by providing single donor platelet apheresis products; providing leukocyte-poor blood products; inactivating donor antigen presenting cells (APC's), a type of lymphocyte contained within the transfused platelet products, by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of platelet concentrates.

The initiative was recommended by the Blood Diseases and Resources Advisory Committee in May 1987 and approved by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council in September 1987. The Requests for Applications were released in June 1988.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Randomized, double-blind. There were three treatment arms and one control arm. Patients in the treatment arms received either leukocyte-poor filtered pooled random donor platelets, or ultraviolet irradiated pooled random donor platelets, or leukocyte-poor filtered single donor apheresis platelets. Patients in the control group received routinely pooled, random-donor platelets. Patients remained on their assigned treatments for all transfusions through eight weeks. Assigned transfusions were discontinued only in the event of severe adverse reaction to the platelet transfusions, granulocyte transfusions, bone marrow transplant, withdrawal of informed consent, or death. Pre- and post transfusion counts were obtained for all platelet transfusions. Each patient was followed for one year. Recruitment continued through March 1995. Data analysis ended in July 1997.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "Completed Date" entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 15 years to 75 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Male and female thrombocytopenic patients, ages 15 and over, newly diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and undergoing chemotherapy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Hayden Braine, Johns Hopkins University; Kuo-Jang Kao, University of Florida; Jeffrey McCullough, University of Minnesota; Janice McFarland, Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin; Charles Schiffer, University of Maryland; Sherrill Schlichter, Bloodworks

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kao KJ, Mickel M, Braine HG, Davis K, Enright H, Gernsheimer T, Gillespie MJ, Kickler TS, Lee EJ, McCullough JJ, et al. White cell reduction in platelet concentrates and packed red cells by filtration: a multicenter clinical trial. The Trap Study Group. Transfusion. 1995 Jan;35(1):13-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1995.35195090653.x.
• Trial to Reduce Alloimmunization to Platelets Study Group. Leukocyte reduction and ultraviolet B irradiation of platelets to prevent alloimmunization and refractoriness to platelet transfusions. N Engl J Med. 1997 Dec 25;337(26):1861-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199712253372601.
• Davis KB, Slichter SJ, Corash L. Corrected count increment and percent platelet recovery as measures of posttransfusion platelet response: problems and a solution. Transfusion. 1999 Jun;39(6):586-92. doi: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1999.39060586.x.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 1989
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 1997

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 1999
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 27, 1999
• First Posted (Estimate): October 28, 1999

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 6, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 4, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2000

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Hematologic Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 309; U01HL042824 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Study Data/Documents

1. Individual Participant Data Set
   Information identifier: TRAP
   Information comments: NHLBI provides controlled access to IPD through BioLINCC. Access requires registration, evidence of local IRB approval or certification of exemption from IRB review, and completion of a data use agreement.
2. Study Protocol
3. Study Forms