Associations of ABO, D, and Lewis blood groups and HLA Class I and Class II alleles with West Nile virus Lineage 2 disease outcome in Greece, 2010 to 2013.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection, commonly asymptomatic, may cause mild West Nile fever (WNF) or potentially fatal neuroinvasive disease (WNND). An outbreak of 262 cases of the new Lineage 2 strain in Greece in 2010 continued with high mortality (17%) in WNND. The objective was to investigate ABO, D, and Lewis blood groups, as well as HLA Class I and Class II alleles, in relation to WNV Lineage 2 disease morbidity.

Haemovigilance data on the use of methylene blue virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma with the Theraflex MB-Plasma System in comparison to quarantine plasma: 11 years' experience.

Objectives/background: Haemovigilance is an effective tool for identifying adverse effects of blood components. We analyse cumulative haemovigilance data in order to compare the two secured therapeutic plasmas that have been in use for more than 11 years in Greece - methylene blue-treated fresh frozen plasma (MB-FFP) and quarantine fresh frozen plasma (Q-FFP) - regarding safety and adverse events.

Methods/materials: Data from the centralised active haemovigilance system of Greece for the period 2001-2011 were used to examine the association between FFP types and adverse events.

Searching for West Nile virus (WNV) in Greece.

West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has increasingly become a concern in both America and Europe due to its complex and unpredictable lifecycle. Transfusion-associated transmission of the WNV has been well documented during the last few years. This study aimed to detect the presence of WNV in: (i) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens derived from aseptic meningitis cases in Greece and (ii) Greek blood donations.

Molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B cases in Greek blood donors.

The use of sensitive nucleic acid testing for hepatitis B virus in blood donors revealed a number of HBV DNA(+) cases among HBsAg(-) donors, a status known as occult HBV infection. The purpose of this study was the serological and molecular characterization of occult HBV infection in Greek blood donors. A prospective study was undertaken in order to identify occult HBV infection cases in blood donors.

Quality and safety of fresh-frozen plasma inactivated and leucoreduced with the Theraflex methylene blue system including the Blueflex filter: 5 years' experience.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this paper is to present 5 years' experience of pathogen inactivation of fresh-frozen plasma with the methylene blue system in a blood centre in Athens.

Materials And Methods: Eight thousand and five hundred units treated by methylene blue and 54 435 untreated were issued for transfusion in four hospitals during the period 2000-2005. Eighty-eight units were evaluated for changes in coagulation factor activity and cytokine concentrations following treatment.