The role of ABO matching in platelet transfusion.

A prospective controlled trial was performed to determine whether the use of ABO-identical platelets from the start of treatment might provide higher post-transfusion platelet increments, reduce the number of platelet transfusions and ultimately delay the onset of refractoriness. Forty newly diagnosed patients with haematological diseases were randomized to receive either pooled ABO-identical platelets or pooled platelets unmatched for ABO group throughout their course. The corrected platelet count increments (CCI) were calculated for the first 25 transfusions of each patient and non-immune factors present at the time of each platelet transfusion were documented.

Life-threatening autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Increasing numbers of patients are being seen with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). An abnormal serology with a positive direct antiglobulin test has been observed in these patients and is usually not thought to contribute to significant clinical morbidity. We describe a patient with AIDS who presented with a severe hemolytic anemia which was not distinguishable clinically and serologically from the idiopathic form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Comparison of monoclonal antisera with conventional antisera for Lewis blood group antigen determination.

Monoclonal blood grouping sera provide a means of overcoming difficulties inherent in the use of conventional polyclonal reagents. Two murine monoclonal anti-Lewis reagents were tested and found to be comparable to conventional reagents for use in red cell phenotyping. These reagents may detect Le(a) antigen on Le(a-b+) red cells with greater sensitivity than previously available polyclonal anti-Lewis reagents.

A critical survey of fresh-frozen plasma use.

The use of 534 units of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) during 160 transfusion episodes in 135 consecutive patients was reviewed. Only 27 percent of transfusions were indicated by a need for replacement of labile coagulation factors. Other uses included volume repletion (31%), intraoperative bleeding or massive transfusion without coagulopathy (19%), and miscellaneous indications unrelated to labile coagulation factors (23%).

A technetium-99m red cell survival technique for in vivo compatibility testing.

A technique for labeling red cells with Technetium-99m was developed using in vitro reduction by stannous pyrophosphate. The use of Technetium-99m and Chromium-51 enabled simultaneous determination of 60-minute autologous and heterologous red cell survival using small aliquots. In vivo pretransfusion red cell compatibility in a patient with a panagglutinin was identical to that with 51Cr-labeled cells.

Survival of MM red cells during hypothermia in two patients with anti-M.

The in vivo survival of M(M+N-) red cells in two patients with anti-M was studied during hypothermia. The antibodies were IgM, of low titer, and did not react at 30 degrees C. 51Cr survival studies were performed using 2 ml of labeled blood.

A new approach to washing red blood cells frozen with a high concentration of glycerol in a special freezing container.

We report here on a new approach to washing red blood cells frozen with a high concentration of glycerol in a special freezing container. The wash solution consists of a 150-ml volume of 12% sodium chloride and 2 liters of 0.9% sodium chloride-0.

Plateletpheresis experience with the Haemonetics Blood Processor 30, the IBM Blood Processor 2997, and the Fenwal CS-3000 Blood Processor.

Comparisons were made of the apheresis instruments Haemonetics Blood Processor 30, IBM Blood Processor 2997 and Fenwal CS-3000, for collection of platelets from normal donors. With each instrument the mean recovery was at least 4 x 10(11) platelets per procedure, and each instrument afforded a safe and reliable collection. The Haemonetics Blood Processor gave the lowest recovery of platelets per minute per procedure.