Generation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by HLA Class II antibody-containing plasma unit that was associated with severe nonhemolytic transfusion reactions.

Background: HLA Class II antibodies are thought to be involved in severe transfusion reactions including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). The activation of monocytes by HLA Class II antibody may play an important role in the etiology of TRALI.

Case Report: An 81-year-old man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Clinical Stage IIIA) received a plateletpheresis unit containing at least 4 x 10(11) platelets because of thrombocytopenia and a bleeding tendency.

Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E caused by apparently indigenous hepatitis E virus strain in Hokkaido, Japan.

Background: In industrialized countries, sporadic cases of hepatitis E have been reported in individuals who have never been in an endemic area. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection commonly occurs via the fecal-oral route but a potential risk of transfusion transmission route has been suggested.

Study Design And Methods: A 67-year-old Japanese male patient who had never been abroad received a transfusion of blood from 23 voluntary donors and developed acute hepatitis with unknown etiology after transfusion.