Transfusion-related acute lung injury and potential risk factors among the inpatient US elderly as recorded in Medicare claims data, during 2007 through 2011.

Background: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious complication leading to pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. This study's objective was to assess TRALI occurrence and potential risk factors among inpatient US elderly Medicare beneficiaries, ages 65 and older, during 2007 through 2011.

Study Design And Methods: This retrospective claims-based study utilized large Medicare administrative databases.

Outpatient transfusions and occurrence of serious noninfectious transfusion-related complications among US elderly, 2007-2008: utility of large administrative databases in blood safety research.

Background: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and hemolytic transfusion reactions account for significant transfusion-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Our study evaluated types and quantities of transfused components as well as occurrence of TRALI, ABO, and Rh incompatibilities among the US elderly in the institutional outpatient setting during 2007 to 2008.

Study Design And Methods: This retrospective claims-based study utilized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' large administrative databases.

Blood use in the ambulatory setting among elderly in the United States.

Background: Our study characterizes blood use in the ambulatory setting by US elderly Medicare beneficiaries during 2001. As the US population ages and delivery of health care in outpatient settings is on the rise, ambulatory blood utilization is expected to increase. There is currently a lack of broad population-based studies detailing ambulatory blood utilization patterns among the US elderly.

Babesia infection through blood transfusions: reports received by the US Food and Drug Administration, 1997-2007.

Background: Human babesiosis is an illness with clinical manifestations that range from asymptomatic to fatal. Although babesiosis is not nationally notifiable, the US incidence appears to be increasing. Babesia infection is a transfusion-transmissable disease.

Transfusion-transmitted Klebsiella pneumoniae fatalities, 1995 to 2004.

Transfusion-transmitted bacterial sepsis is the third most common cause of transfusion-related fatalities reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Between October 1, 1995, and September 30, 2004, there were 665 reported transfusion fatalities. Eighty-five (13%) deaths were due to transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections, of which 58 (68%) were due to gram-negative organisms.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury: definition and review.

Background: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is now the leading cause of transfusion-associated mortality, even though it is probably still underdiagnosed and underreported.

National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute Action: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a working group to identify areas of research needed in TRALI. The working group identified the immediate need for a common definition and thus developed the clinical definition in this report.

Fatalities caused by TRALI.

This article includes a retrospective review of fatalities caused by transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) over a 5-year period (from 1997 to 2002) that were reported to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research involving 58 recipient deaths and the corresponding 63 blood component donors. Descriptive statistics are presented. Recipient characteristics include age, sex, and admitting diagnosis.