1.
Prestorage leukoreduction of transfused red cells is associated with significant ongoing 2-12 month survival benefit in cardiac surgery patients
Boshkov L, Chien G, Vanwinkle D, Furnary AP, Wu Y, Grunkemeier G, Morris CD
Blood. 2006;108((11):): Abstract No. 578.
2.
A randomized controlled trial comparing plasma removal with white cell reduction to prevent reactions to platelets
Heddle NM, Klama L, Meyer R, Walker I, Boshkov L, Roberts R, Chambers S, Podlosky L, O'Hoski P, Levine M
Transfusion. 1999;39((3):):231-8.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent data suggest that most reactions to platelets are caused by white cell (WBC)-derived cytokines that accumulate in the plasma portion of the component during storage. On the basis of this theory, the effectiveness of two interventions to prevent reactions, poststorage WBC reduction and plasma depletion, were compared. STUDY DESIGN A multiple crossover design was used, in which platelet components for transfusion to a patient randomly were WBC reduced after storage, or the plasma supernatant was removed. Adults >17 years of age, with a hematologic disease requiring platelet transfusion support, were eligible for the study. Patients were assessed for signs and symptoms characteristic of a reaction during, immediately after, and 1 hour after transfusion. Reactions were graded as mild, moderate, or severe. Interleukin 6 levels were also measured in the transfused platelet components. RESULTS There were 380 analyzable platelet transfusions to 30 patients. The frequency of reactions was 25.8 percent (48/186) in the transfusions of poststorage WBC-reduced platelets and 17.0 percent (33/194) in the transfusions of plasma-depleted platelets (p<0.008). The severity of the reaction was graded by the patient. Severe reactions occurred more frequently in connection with poststorage WBC-reduced platelets than with plasma-depleted platelets: 33.4 percent (16/48) versus 18.2 percent (6/33), respectively (p = 0.048). Regression analysis identified interleukin 6 as the most significant of the evaluated factors in its correlation with the risk of reaction. CONCLUSION Plasma removal is more effective than poststorage WBC reduction in preventing reactions, especially severe reactions to platelets.
3.
Transfusion- and community-acquired cytomegalovirus infection in children with malignant disease: a prospective study
Preiksaitis JK, Desai S, Vaudry W, Roberts S, Akabutu J, Grundy P, Wilson B, Boshkov L, Hannon J, Joffres M
Transfusion. 1997;37((9):):941-6.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-"safe" blood has been recommended for CMV seronegative patients with newly diagnosed malignant disease for whom bone marrow transplantation is a future option. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS To evaluate this policy, 76 CMV-seronegative children with lymphoreticular malignancies or solid tumors were randomly assigned to receive either blood components that were not screened for CMV antibody or CMV-seronegative red cell (RBC) and platelet units. Subjects were followed for evidence of CMV infection by the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and virus isolation. Follow-up continued long after the blood transfusions to determine the risk of community-acquired CMV infection. RESULTS No cases of transfusion-acquired CMV infection were documented. The prevalence of CMV IgG and IgM antibody in blood donors was 40.5 and 0.9 percent, respectively. Patients assigned to receive standard blood components and CMV-negative components were given a median (range) of 7 (1-30) and 9 (1-38) RBC units and 11 (0-123) and 14 (0-71) platelet units, respectively. The risk of transfusion-acquired CMV infection is estimated to be less than 1 in 698 donor exposures. Two patients developed asymptomatic community-acquired CMV infection, for an incidence of 1.7 percent per patient-year of follow-up. CONCLUSION The risk of transfusion-acquired CMV infection in this population is low, largely because of the patients' low level of exposure to seropositive blood and the use of relatively white cell-reduced components for purposes other than CMV prevention. Such children at this center therefore continue to receive standard blood components. Strategies to prevent CMV seroconversion in these children should include parental education to minimize the risk of community-acquired infection.