Abstract
Frozen red blood cells (RBCs) are commonly used in chronic transfusion programs for patients with homozygous β -thalassemia, sickle cell anemia after stroke, etc., to avoid the severe transfusion reactions due to sensitization to WBCs. An alternative technique for removal of WBCs consists of filtration on cotton wool. We have used or transfusion RBCs first filtered on cotton wool filters (Imugard IG500, Terumo Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and then washed with a solution containing NaCl 0.8%, Dextrose 0.2%, buffered with phosphate to pH 7.4. These cells appear superior to frozen RBCs, as they are less expensive to prepare ($55 vs. $119), equally free of WBCs (200/μl vs. 300/ μl), and yield an equal volume of RBCs per unit (180 vs. 170 ml). In seven splenectomized patients with homozygous β-thalassemia, we compared one year of filtered RBCs to the previous year of frozen RBCs. The transfusion interval remained unchanged (19.5 vs. 20.5 days) as did the transfusion requirement (118 vs. 125 ml/kg/yr). We noticed an improvement in p50 with the change to filtered RBCs. All of our patients with homozygous β-thalassemia have been switched to filtered RBCs: there has been no reaction in over 1500 transfusions. Filtered RBCs appear to be the product of choice for chronic transfusion programs, as they are cheaper and easier to prepare than frozen RBCs, using ordinary blood bank equipment, and probably also more effective in oxygen delivery. We recommend that all patients on chronic transfusion be switched to filtered RBCs.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tilton, W., Seaman, C., Malavadi, V. et al. A MORE ECONOMICAL AND EFFECTIVE BLOOD PRODUCT FOR CHRONIC TRANSFUSIONS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 306 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00836
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00836