
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
This study wanted to see if differences in blood cells called platelets affect how well they work when given to somebody as a .
Platelets are a type of blood cell. They are very important in blood clotting and help to stop bleeding. If the number of platelets in your blood is low you may bruise easily, have nosebleeds or bleed more than usual from cuts or grazes.
The number of platelets you have may go down when you have cancer treatment such as chemotherapy. If the number of platelets you have gets very low, you may need to have platelets from a donor. You have them through a drip into a vein.
Platelets need to be ‘switched on’ to help with blood clotting. How easily platelets are switched on is called responsiveness. When they are tested in the laboratory, platelets from different donors have different levels of responsiveness. Researchers wanted to find out if these levels make any difference when the platelets are given to another person as a platelet transfusion.
The people taking part in this study had platelet transfusions as part of their treatment.
Despite attempting to contact the trial team, we have not been able to have the results for this trial checked.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Lorna Williamson
NHS Blood and Transplant
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”