1.
A multicenter randomized study of the efficacy of transfusions with platelets stored in platelet additive solution II versus plasma
Kerkhoffs JL, Eikenboom JC, Schipperus MS, van Wordragen-Vlaswinkel RJ, Brand R, Harvey MS, de Vries RR, Barge R, van Rhenen DJ, Brand A
Blood. 2006;108((9):):3210-5.
Abstract
Randomized studies testing the clinical efficacy of platelet additive solutions (PASs) for storage of platelets are scarce and often biased by patient selection. We conducted a multicenter, randomized study to investigate clinical efficacy of platelets stored in PAS II versus plasma, also including patients with clinical complications associated with increased platelet consumption. A total of 168 evaluable patients received pooled buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates (PCs) suspended in either plasma (n = 354) or PAS II (n = 411) stored up to 5 days. Both univariate as well as multivariate analysis showed a significant effect of used storage medium in regard to 1- and 24-hour count increments and corrected count increments, in favor of plasma PCs. However, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding bleeding complications and transfusion interval. Adverse transfusion reactions occurred significantly less after transfusions with PAS II PCs (P = . 04). Multivariate analysis showed no significant effect of the used storage medium on the incidence of 1- and 24-hour transfusion failure. We showed safety and efficacy of PAS II PCs in intensively treated patients; however, plasma PCs show superior increments.
2.
The influence of a partially HLA-matched blood transfusion on the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis
van der Horst-Bruinsma IE, Huizinga TW, Lagaay EM, Hazes JM, Breedveld FC, Schreuder GM, Tomson TA, Zwinderman AH, van Rood JJ, de Vries RR
Rheumatology. 1999;38((1):):53-8.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Based on the immunosuppressive effects of blood transfusions in organ transplantation, we determined the effect of a blood transfusion on disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD In this double-blind pilot study, 40 patients with active RA were randomly assigned to receive a HLA-DRB1-matched blood transfusion (n = 30) or placebo (n = 10). Disease activity was scored according to the American College of Rheumatology response criteria during 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS After 1 month and 6 months, respectively, 6 and 16% of patients fulfilled the response criteria in the blood transfusion group compared to none and 30%, respectively, in the placebo group. Following correction for the increase in haemoglobin levels, a majority of the response parameters in the blood transfusion group showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION A DRB1-matched blood transfusion shows improvement of symptoms in several RA patients. Additional studies are required to identify blood transfusion regimens that enhance the potential for therapeutic responses.