Iron Depletion in Repeat Male Plateletpheresis Donors: Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Cross-Sectional Study
- 1Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- 2Blood Bank Section, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Abstract
Purpose: Iron depletion is increasingly recognized among repeat plateletpheresis donors despite the return of red blood cells during apheresis. However, data on iron status and factors associated with reduced iron stores in plateletpheresis donors in Thailand remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron depletion and identify factors associated with lower iron stores among repeat plateletpheresis donors.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included healthy, non-anemic male repeat plateletpheresis donors at a university hospital blood bank in Thailand. Donors were categorized into three groups according to serum ferritin levels: iron depletion (≤30 µg/L), intermediate iron stores (31–100 µg/L), and higher iron stores (>100 µg/L). Demographic characteristics, donation history, hematologic parameters, and iron indices were evaluated. Factors associated with iron depletion were explored using univariable logistic regression, whereas factors associated with ferritin ≤100 µg/L were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Among 150 participants, iron depletion was identified in 6 donors (4.0%; 95% CI, 1.5–8.5%), 42 had intermediate iron stores (28.0%; 95% CI, 21.0–35.9%), and 102 donors had ferritin >100 µg/L (68.0%; 95% CI, 59.9–75.4%). Platelet donation frequency, platelet donation volume during the preceding year, lifetime platelet donations, and recent whole blood donation were not significantly associated with either ferritin threshold. In multivariable analysis, body weight (adjusted OR, 0.963; 95% CI, 0.929–0.998; p=0.036) and reticulocyte count (OR, 0.205; 95% CI, 0.066–0.637; p=0.006) were independently associated with ferritin ≤100 µg/L.
Conclusion: Iron depletion was uncommon, but one-third of non-anemic repeat plateletpheresis donors had ferritin ≤100 µg/L. Lower body weight and lower reticulocyte count were associated with this ferritin threshold in exploratory analyses. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings before targeted iron-status screening strategies can be recommended.
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BibTeX
@article{maikula2026iron,
title = {{Iron Depletion in Repeat Male Plateletpheresis Donors: Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Thidawan Maikula and Piangrawee Niprapan and Maitree Sriwichai and Sirichai Srichairatanakool and Teerachat Punnachet and Nonthakorn Hantrakun and Pokpong Piriyakhuntorn and Thanawat Rattanathammethee and Ekarat Rattarittamrong and Sasinee Hantrakool},
journal = {Journal of Blood Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.2147/jbm.s646810},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/jbm.s646810},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Iron Depletion in Repeat Male Plateletpheresis Donors: Prevalence and Associated Factors in a Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Thidawan Maikula
AU - Piangrawee Niprapan
AU - Maitree Sriwichai
AU - Sirichai Srichairatanakool
AU - Teerachat Punnachet
AU - Nonthakorn Hantrakun
AU - Pokpong Piriyakhuntorn
AU - Thanawat Rattanathammethee
AU - Ekarat Rattarittamrong
AU - Sasinee Hantrakool
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Journal of Blood Medicine
DO - 10.2147/jbm.s646810
UR - https://doi.org/10.2147/jbm.s646810
AB - Purpose: Iron depletion is increasingly recognized among repeat plateletpheresis donors despite the return of red blood cells during apheresis. However, data on iron status and factors associated with reduced iron stores in plateletpheresis donors in Thailand remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron depletion and identify factors associated with lower iron stores among repeat plateletpheresis donors. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included healthy, non-anemic male repeat plateletpheresis donors at a university hospital blood bank in Thailand. Donors were categorized into three groups according to serum ferritin levels: iron depletion (≤30 µg/L), intermediate iron stores (31–100 µg/L), and higher iron stores (>100 µg/L). Demographic characteristics, donation history, hematologic parameters, and iron indices were evaluated. Factors associated with iron depletion were explored using univariable logistic regression, whereas factors associated with ferritin ≤100 µg/L were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among 150 participants, iron depletion was identified in 6 donors (4.0%; 95% CI, 1.5–8.5%), 42 had intermediate iron stores (28.0%; 95% CI, 21.0–35.9%), and 102 donors had ferritin >100 µg/L (68.0%; 95% CI, 59.9–75.4%). Platelet donation frequency, platelet donation volume during the preceding year, lifetime platelet donations, and recent whole blood donation were not significantly associated with either ferritin threshold. In multivariable analysis, body weight (adjusted OR, 0.963; 95% CI, 0.929–0.998; p=0.036) and reticulocyte count (OR, 0.205; 95% CI, 0.066–0.637; p=0.006) were independently associated with ferritin ≤100 µg/L. Conclusion: Iron depletion was uncommon, but one-third of non-anemic repeat plateletpheresis donors had ferritin ≤100 µg/L. Lower body weight and lower reticulocyte count were associated with this ferritin threshold in exploratory analyses. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings before targeted iron-status screening strategies can be recommended.
SN - 1179-2736
ER -