Early alloimmunization in an infant to red cell antigens-Rare but possible in the 'right' circumstances.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization is rarely reported in infants less than 4-6 months of age.

Methods/materials: Blood group and antibody screening used the gel card technique. All blood products were leukoreduced.

ABO non-identical platelet transfusions, immune platelet refractoriness and platelet support.

ABO-non-identical (ABO-ni) platelets may be another risk factor for immune platelet transfusion refractoriness (i-PTR). We examined the effect of such platelets on i-PTR and subsequent platelet support through retrospective analysis of 17 322 New Zealand patients receiving ≥1 platelets. Immune PTR was defined as PTR with anti-HLA-I/HPA positivity.

Reactions to serum eye drops-New Zealand experience and review of the literature.

Background: Serum eye drops (SED) are used to treat ocular surface disease. Reactions to SED are poorly documented.

Methods: We present our experience of self-reported reactions in New Zealand to SED (25%; autologous, allogeneic, or both) between 2003 and 2023, and a focused review of the literature.

A critical assessment of dose effects of post-thaw CD34 on autologous stem cell transplantation treatment of haematological malignancies.

A consensus threshold of pre-cryopreservation CD34-positive cells (CD34s) has been used as the minimum dose to initiate autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Advances in cryopreservation posed a debate whether post-thaw CD34s might be a superior surrogate instead. We addressed the debate in this retrospective study of 217 adult ASCTs in five different haematological malignancies treated at a single centre.

Red blood cell alloantibodies in the context of critical bleeding and massive transfusion.

Background: In the context of critical bleeding and massive transfusion (CB/MT), little is known about the development of new red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies. We performed a retrospective, observational study to examine the frequency of RBC alloantibodies (pre-existent, anamnestic, or new) in patients with CB/MT, defined as transfusion of five or more RBC units in any 4-hour period, for any cause of CB.

Materials And Methods: Data on 2,585 New Zealand patients (date/time of MT initiation, demographic data, blood group, clinical context, and transfused RBCs) were obtained from the Australian and New Zealand Massive Transfusion Registry.

Placebo and nocebo effects in transfusion medicine.

Background: Our own observations suggested that placebo and nocebo effects may occur with transfusions. However these effects seem to have been poorly studied.

Objectives: To examine published information on, and draw attention to the possibility of, placebo and nocebo effects with transfusion.

Transfusion double whammy? Adrenaline-takotsubo-anaphylaxis-Kounis complex post transfusion?

Background And Objectives: The adrenaline-takotsubo-anaphylaxis-Kounis, or the ATAK complex, where there are clinical and pathophysiological overlaps between takotsubo and Kounis syndromes, in which histaminergic, adrenergic and other mediators may play roles, was recently described. The objective of this report was to describe three cases where the ATAK complex was suspected to have occurred after transfusion.

Materials And Methods: Three cases were recently reported to the New Zealand Blood Service haemovigilance programme that appeared to have features in common suggestive of the ATAK complex.

Occult alloimmunization to the D antigen (RhD) related to graft versus host disease and its treatment.

Alloimmunization to red blood cell (RBC) antigens post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) appears to be quite rare. The D antigen (RhD) is considered the most immunogenic RBC antigen with possibly a third of RhD-negative individuals exposed to RhD-positive RBC transfusions becoming alloimmunized. Though variable, most are detectable within a year of exposure, and the median time between exposure and detection is estimated to be about a month.

Analysis of transfusion therapy during the March 2019 mass shooting incident in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Background And Objective: A mass casualty incident occurred in Christchurch in March 2019. Thirty-seven patients with gunshot wounds were admitted. We describe and analyse the transfusion management of these casualties.

Evaluation of clinical coding data to determine causes of critical bleeding in patients receiving massive transfusion: a bi-national, multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of routinely collected data to determine the cause(s) of critical bleeding in patients who receive massive transfusion (MT).

Background: Routinely collected data are increasingly being used to describe and evaluate transfusion practice.

Materials/methods: Chart reviews were undertaken on 10 randomly selected MT patients at 48 hospitals across Australia and New Zealand to determine the cause(s) of critical bleeding.

Improving the use and timeliness of anticoagulation reversal for warfarin related intracranial haemorrhage.

Background: Warfarin-related intracranial haemorrhage (WRICH) is a life-threatening complication of warfarin use. Rapid and complete reversal of the coagulopathy is required. Reversal protocols which include prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) are now recommended.

Transfusion-associated dyspnea--shadow or substance?

New Zealand Blood Service Haemovigilance uses International Society of Blood Transfusion/International Haemovigilance Network definitions to categorize transfusion reactions (TR). Transfusion-associated dyspnoea (TAD) is a category for TR with respiratory features (TRRF) that do not fit definitive entities. TRRF, including TAD, are clinically significant.

Induction of immune tolerance to RBC, platelet, and neutrophil antigens and IgA.

Antibodies to red blood cell (RBC), platelet, and neutrophil antigens, and IgA may cause serious clinical problems. With a few exceptions, preventing these conditions is a matter of limiting exposure to the foreign antigen while treatment consists of managing the consequences. Might immune tolerance induction (ITI) be possible and beneficial in these situations? Neonatal exposure to antigens is known to induce central tolerance.

Incidence of maternal sensitisation to Rh(D) in Christchurch, New Zealand and reasons for prophylaxis failures.

Aim: To estimate the current incidence of maternal sensitisation to Rh(D) and examine reasons for prophylaxis failures.

Method: Retrospective chart review of new sensitisations to Rh(D) detected in antenatal records, between 2005 and 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand and systematic examination of circumstances likely to have caused prophylaxis failures.

Results: Fifty-four new sensitisations in an at-risk population of about 4624 in 8 years means an incidence of roughly 1.

Post-fever retinitis: a single center experience from south India.

Various retinal manifestations can occur following a febrile illness due to viral, bacterial or protozoal etiology. As there are limited data in the literature, we undertook this study to analyse the clinical presentation of post-fever retinitis due to various etiologies, as well as its course and management. This was a retrospective study of 14 consecutive cases who presented to the Vitreo Retina Department of our hospital over a 1-year period between January 2010 and December 2010.

Red blood cell phenotyping after transfusion: an in vitro model.

Recipients red blood cell (RBC) phenotyping using serologic techniques, within 3 months of a transfusion, is considered unreliable. We conducted in vitro experiments to determine how long recipients RBC phenotyping results would be compromised. In vitro models were created to mimic in vivo posttransfusion ratios of "transfused" RBCs with either a single or a double dose of an antigen at 10-day intervals from day 0 to day 90 in hypothetical recipients with varying weights and hematocrits (Hct) receiving varying numbers of RBC units.