{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.009695290858725761, 'fraction_numerical': 0.00554016620498615, 'mean_word_length': 5.398230088495575, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
How platelet transfusions were invented

It is a pleasure to contribute to the Inflection Points series of articles focused on transformational events in transfusion medicine. Platelets and platelet transfusions have played a major role in my professional career, but when I first entered the field in the 1960s, platelet transfusion therapy was almost nonexistent, even though red cell and plasma transfusions were commonplace. The story of how platelet transfusion evolved to the point where bleeding thrombocytopenic patients could be managed effectively is an interesting one involving twists and turns related in large degree to the refusal of platelets to behave like their more passive cousins, the red blood cells.