Serious hazard of transfusion (SHOT) initiative. Autologous transfusion would avoid many of the problems of blood transfusion.
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Aspergillus pancarditis is a rare infection, and it has rarely been reported after blood transfusion. In this report, we describe a fatal case of Aspergillus pancarditis in a patient who received antibiotics and corticoids after an incompatible blood transfusion intended to be an autologous blood transfusion. A 64-year-old man suffering from herniation of intervertebral disk between C4 and C5 received an anterior cervical spinal fusion. After the operation, he received incompatible blood transfusion and fell into disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and preshock state. Anticoagulants and corticoids were given and he recovered from DIC and the preshock state. However, he remained quadriplegic because of enlargement of cervical epidural hematoma that was initially brought out by the operation. He developed bacterial bronchopneumonia 2 weeks after the transfusion and received antibiotic therapy. The pneumonia was cured a week later. Five weeks after the transfusion, he developed Aspergillus pneumonia and received antimycotic therapy. However, his condition grew worse and died 2 months after the transfusion. Autopsy revealed Aspergillus pancarditis. In this case, the relationship between the erroneous transfusion and the patient's death was obvious and it was considered that the erroneous transfusion should be blamed for the patient's death.
BACKGROUND: Nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (NHTRs) frequently occur after platelet transfusions. White cell (WBC)-derived inflammatory cytokines can cause these reactions, but they are rarely found in WBC-poor platelet preparations. Transfusion reactions were investigated with regard to the residual WBC content in the stored platelet concentrate in two consecutive study periods. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In the first study period, platelet concentrates were WBC-reduced by bedside filtration. In the second period, all platelet concentrates were filtered before storage. Recipients who experienced transfusion reactions were examined with regard to their main clinical symptoms during and after transfusion. In the supernatant of the involved platelet concentrates, concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha, and RANTES were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of transfusion reactions remained steady when the transfusion regimen was changed from bedside filtration to prestorage WBC filtration (1.63% and 1.56%; p = 0.84). In both periods, NHTRs were predominantly of allergic origin. Inflammatory mediators IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFalpha were detectable in only a minority of platelet components involved in NHTRs. Platelet concentrates involved in allergic reactions contained high concentrations of RANTES (668 +/- 223 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Prestorage WBC filtration did not reduce the incidence of these reactions, and inflammatory cytokines were of minor relevance. The proinflammatory platelet-derived chemokine RANTES, which accumulates even in WBC-reduced platelet concentrates, was associated with allergic transfusion reactions. Platelet-derived mediators may be a key to understanding NHTRs.
BACKGROUND: A retrospective investigation was conducted to determine whether autologous blood collection could reduce allogenic transfusion after resection of esophageal cancer and whether allogenic transfusion influenced postoperative infection. METHODS: Patients (n = 100) who met the criteria for hemoglobin, age, body weight, and serum protein donated 800 mL of autologous blood from May 1994 to December 1997. The control group (n = 248) was selected from patients who met the same criteria and did not donate autologous blood over the 10 years before the start of autologous blood collection. RESULTS: Only three patients (3%) from the autologous group required allogenic transfusion versus 84 patients (33.7%) from the control group. Sixteen of the 26 patients who received more than 4 units of allogenic blood contracted postoperative infections compared with 25 of 165 patients who did not (P < .0001). Autologous blood transfusion significantly increased the probability of avoiding allogenic transfusion (odds ratio, 27.58), and allogenic transfusion was significantly related to postoperative infection (odds ratio, 1.19), according to logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous blood collection reduces the need for allogenic transfusion in patients undergoing resection of esophageal cancer, and avoidance of allogenic transfusion may reduce the risk of postoperative infection.
BACKGROUND: Transfusion of trauma patients can result in long-term survival of donor white blood cells (WBCs) or "transfusion-associated microchimerism" (TA-MC). The aim was to determine whether leukoreduction of blood transfusions, advocated to reduce the immunomodulatory effect of transfusion, decreases the likelihood of developing TA-MC. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A subgroup of trauma patients from a randomized trial was examined, evaluating the risk of infection following leukoreduced versus nonleukoreduced blood transfusion. Patients' blood was sampled at least 1 month after hospital discharge, and TA-MC was assessed with quantitative allele-specific polymerase chain reaction detection of differences at the HLA-DR locus or a panel of insertion-deletion polymorphism loci distributed throughout the chromosomal complement. At the time of blood sampling, a scripted interview was used to ascertain symptoms suggestive of chronic graft-versus host disease (cGVHD). RESULTS: For 67 patients evaluated, the mean age was 43 +/- 17 years and mean Injury Severity Score was 24 +/- 12. Median time from injury to blood sampling for TA-MC was 240 (interquartile range, 116-360) days. Nine of 32 patients (28%) in the nonleukoreduced transfusion group developed TA-MC compared to 13 of 35 patients (37%) in the leukoreduced group (p = 0.43). Subjects with TA-MC were no more likely than subjects without TA-MC to have at least one symptom suggestive of cGVHD (64% vs. 76%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TA-MC seems to be a prevalent condition among injured patients at the second of two regional trauma centers evaluated, suggesting that it is a common phenomenon after transfusion in the setting of injury. Although leukoreduction removes greater than 99.9 percent of donor WBCs, it fails to prevent or even substantially reduce the likelihood of developing TA-MC. TA-MC does not appear to be strongly associated with symptoms suggestive of cGVHD several months after transfusion.
Recently there has been an increasing realization that for the prevention of transfusion-associated HIV infection, HIV screening alone is insufficient. In 1988, a treatment protocol for children under 5 years with severe anaemia, was introduced in Ekwendeni Hospital. Initial results showed that it was possible to reduce the number of blood transfusions without increasing the mortality rate. By January 1992 the protocol was being widely disregarded by ward staff, and transfusion rates had increased. Strict enforcement of the transfusion protocol from the 16 January produced a sharp drop in the percentage transfused from 44% to 11%. Mortality rates remained similar throughout the period of the study. Thus, it would appear to be possible, with the use of the transfusion protocol, to reduce the number of blood transfusions carried out, without affecting mortality rates, and hence to reduce the risk of transfusion-associated HIV.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost, from a societal perspective, of blood transfusion in Canada. STUDY DESIGN: Cost-structure analysis. SETTING: Data were collected from eight hospitals and from six blood centres operated by the Canadian Red Cross Society in four provinces. OUTCOME MEASURES: Costs associated with four stages of transfusion-- collection, production, distribution and delivery--in 1933 were assessed. Costs were divided into the following categories; personnel, purchases, external services, overhead, donors' time, patients' time (for autologous transfusion), wastage and infection. RESULTS: The mean overall cost of a transfusion performed on an inpatient basis was $210 per unit of red blood cells for an allogeneic transfusion and $338 per unit of blood for an autologous transfusion. The mean cost of an allogeneic transfusion performed on an outpatient basis was $280 per unit of red blood cells. CONCLUSION: The costs determined in this study can be used in future studies comparing the cost-effectiveness of allogeneic transfusion with that of alternative methods.
To determine if the beneficial effect of blood transfusion on renal allograft survival can be obtained without risk of presensitization, we examined the effect of transfusions given on the day of transplant surgery in a series of 180 primary cadaveric renal allografts. Three-month graft survival of those transfused only on the day of transplant was significantly better than the graft survival of those never transfused, and was not significantly different from graft survival of those transfused during the dialysis waiting period. Maximal beneficial effect was achieved by administration of as few as two to three units. We conclude that the benefits of transfusion can be obtained while minimizing the risks of presensitization if transfusion is minimized during the dialysis waiting period and patients are electively transfused at the time of transplant.
Erythrocyte membrane structural parameters were studied in transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients, in long-term transfused patients (regularly transfused < 15 years), and in those who had not yet obtained transfusions. Controls were voluntary students up to 30 years of age without diagnosis or clinical signs of thalassemia. Membranes were isolated and investigated by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Data obtained from the thiol-reactive spin label N-ethyl-maleimidoproxyl reveal immobilization of protein environment in erythrocyte membranes from thalassemic patients. SDS-PAGE shows both degradation and aggregation of membrane proteins. Thalassemic erythrocyte membranes exert higher order parameters in the hydrophobic region as determined by 16-doxyl-stearic acid. Rotational correlation times of this spin label increase only in transfused patients. Polarity is higher in membranes of all patients than in controls. In the polar interface, order parameters obtained from 5-doxyl-stearic acid increase in non-transfused and decrease in transfusion-dependent patients as compared with controls. Transfused patients exert increasing membrane order in the hydrophobic region and counter-currently decreasing order in the polar interface indicating loss of membrane integrity along with the loss of fluidity and polarity gradients and the loss the energetic barrier function of the membrane.
We have reviewed the impact of evolving issues in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on transfusion support for these patients. Issues include increased awareness of transfusion risks, reappraisal of traditional indicators triggering transfusion, and evolving alternatives to homologous blood transfusion such as autologous blood and pharmacologic therapy. These issues have been prompted by programs, such as the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conferences, to provide physicians with guidelines for appropriate use of blood components. However, evidence suggests that transfusion practice in coronary artery bypass grafting procedures remains variable and does not take into account the results of recently published clinical studies. We have therefore developed guidelines and recommendations for transfusion support in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. In summary, they are the following. 1. Institutions with coronary artery bypass grafting programs should establish a multidisciplinary approach to use a combination of interventions designed to minimize homologous blood exposure. 2. Prophylactic transfusion of plasma and platelets are of no benefit and therefore carry an unnecessary risk to the patient. 3. Special request products such as designated blood donation from first-degree relatives should not be used because of the risk of transfusion-associated graft versus host disease. 4. For support of intravascular volume, crystalloids or colloids should be used because they do not have the potential to transmit infection.
BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) constitute a major health problem worldwide where routine screening of blood or blood products is improperly done, and where non-medical injecting medications and/or drug use are prevalent. Prevalence and risk factors vary by geographic location and by the specific TTI (including HIV-1, HBV, HCV and HTLV-I). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with TTIs among a sample of multi-transfused adult patients in Peru. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional multi-center study was conducted across seven major hospitals in Peru from February 2003 to September 2004. Self-reported behavior information (medical procedures, number of sexual partners, and drug use history) was analyzed, along with a review of exposure history from hospital medical records. Prevalences were calculated by TTI for different exposures, along with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for infection risk. RESULTS: Overall, 192 (54.7%) of 351 multi-transfused patients were found infected with one or more TTIs. Number of transfusion units, years of transfusion history (6 or more), and number of treatment facilities (2 or more) were associated with HCV infection. Hemodialysis history was a common risk factor associated with HBV, HCV and HTLV-I infection. HIV infection was associated only with total number of transfusion units received. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalences of HBV and HCV infection were found among Peruvian multi-transfused patients and were associated with a past history and number of blood transfusions, as well as with past hemodialysis procedures. TTIs continue to represent a significant public health problem in Peru. Continued vigilant attention to blood safety procedures, including universal screening and health care provider education, is recommended.
BACKGROUND: It is known that in vivo platelet survival varies as the platelet count changes. Previous attempts at curve fitting fail to predict the decreased platelet survival in thrombocythemia. Therefore, mathematical relations that more closely approximate platelet survival were derived and used in models of platelet transfusion practice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A differential equation for platelet loss was derived that included a constant (constant homeostatic loss), a first-order term (senescent loss), and a second-order term (one proportional to the square of the platelet concentration and whose contribution is expected to be significant only at higher platelet concentrations). Data derived from this model was compared to platelet survival data in normal, thrombocytopenic, and thrombocythemic patients and to the platelet decay after high-dose chemotherapy. To provide further validation of this model, predicted and actual platelet requirements were calculated or obtained (chart review) in bone marrow patients with uncomplicated thrombocytopenia after ablation and at two platelet-transfusion thresholds (20 and 10 x 10(9)/L). RESULTS: The equations accurately modeled normal, thrombocytopenic, and thrombocythemic platelet survival. Chart review demonstrated a 12.5 percent reduction in platelet transfusion requirements when the transfusion threshold was reduced from 20 to 10 x 10(9) per L. The model predicted a reduction of 14.0 percent. For 100 days of uncomplicated thrombocytopenia and a transfusion threshold of 10 x 10(9) per L, transfusion of 3 units of platelet concentrates compared to a 6-unit pool of platelet concentrates, resulted in a 22-percent savings of platelet units. CONCLUSION: Platelet survival as a function of platelet concentration can be modeled by use of a differential equation. This model challenges current dogma regarding platelet destruction and predicts decreased platelet survival in thrombocythemic patients. The model illustrates that large doses of platelets would result in greater time between transfusions, however, more units of platelets are used. Consideration should be given to the more frequent use of smaller doses of platelets in patients who chronically require platelet transfusion support.