Which of the following platelets is best for patients with recurrent febrile reactions?

Leukocyte-reduced platelets are the best choice for patients with recurrent febrile reactions primarily because they significantly lower the incidence of such reactions. Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions are often triggered by the recipient's immune response to leukocytes (white blood cells) present in the transfused product. By using leukocyte-reduced platelets, which have been treated to remove most of the white blood cells, the risk of febrile reactions is greatly diminished. This is crucial for patients who have previously experienced adverse reactions, as it improves their overall safety and comfort during transfusions.

In contrast, while other options might seem viable, they do not address the underlying cause of febrile reactions as effectively. Refrigerated platelets and fresh platelets are typically not designed to mitigate febrile reactions and would not provide the same benefit as leukocyte reduction. Platelets with antigen matching are beneficial for patients experiencing hemolytic reactions due to HLA or platelet antigen mismatching, but this does not directly influence febrile reactions, which are related to leukocyte presence rather than antigen incompatibility. Therefore, for managing recurrent febrile reactions, leukocyte-reduced platelets are the most effective intervention.