Increased Incidence of Red Blood Cell Alloantibodies in Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Background: Approximately 80% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receive multiple red blood cells (RBC), often multiple transfusions, and are therefore prone to develop alloantibodies against RBC. Because of increasing evidence for the role of immune dysregulation in the pathobiology of MDS, we hypothesized that in patients with MDS there is an increase in alloantibody formation beyond that expected from multiple transfusions.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence rates of alloantibodies in patients with MDS who are transfusion dependent and compare them to rates of non-MDS patients matched for number of RBC units they received.

Relaparotomies after cesarean sections: risk factors, indications, and management.

Objective: To establish the frequency of post-cesarean relaparotomy, identify its risk factors, indications, and operative management.

Methods: This study was a retrospective matched case control study. Records of all women who underwent a cesarean section (CS) from July 2006 to March 2012 were reviewed.

[The effect of platelet transfusion on traumatic intracranial hemorrhage among patients treated with aspirin].

Background: Head trauma represents a serious medical and socio-economical problem owing to its related morbidity and mortality. One of its serious complications is traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TICH). There is evidence that TICH has a tendency to expand, especially during the first hours following injury.

Usage of blood products in multiple-casualty incidents: the experience of a level I trauma center in Israel.

Objective: To predict how much blood will be needed based on the number of injured patients arriving after a multiple-casualty incident.

Design: A retrospective study evaluating data collected in 18 consecutive terrorist attacks in the city of Tel Aviv between January 1997 and February 2005.

Setting: A large, urban trauma center.

Enoxaparin can be used safely in patients with severe thrombocytopenia due to intensive chemotherapy regimens.

Treatment with intensive chemotherapy regimens is frequently complicated by severe thrombocytopenia. During the period of severe thrombocytopenia, anticoagulant treatment is not uncommonly indicated for thromboembolic events or thromboprophylaxis in these patients. We report 10 hematological patients treated with intensive chemotherapy protocols that were anticoagulated with enoxaparin for catheter related central venous thrombosis and thromboprophylaxis.

Vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors and fibrinogen levels in FFP remain stable upon repeated freezing and thawing.

Background: FFP is considered adequate for transfusion up to 24 hours after thawing and is currently used most often to replace deficient clotting factors, such as in warfarin overdose. We set to examine the levels of vitamin K-dependent factors (i.e.

Opsonization of apoptotic cells by autologous iC3b facilitates clearance by immature dendritic cells, down-regulates DR and CD86, and up-regulates CC chemokine receptor 7.

Immature dendritic cells (iDCs) do not mature after uptake of apoptotic cells and may play a role in the induction of peripheral tolerance to self antigens derived from apoptotic material. The integrins, alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5, and the scavenger receptor, CD36, have been shown to mediate uptake of apoptotic cells by iDCs. However, it is not known whether the complement system, also takes part in this process.

Donor anti-Jk(a) causing hemolysis in a liver transplant recipient.

Background: Hemolytic transfusion reactions have been observed in recipients of ABO- and/or D-mismatched marrow, peripheral blood, and solid organs. Passenger lymphocyte syndrome occurs when immunocompetent donor lymphocytes transferred during transplantation produce alloantibodies against host antigens.

Case Report: The first case of a delayed, anti-Jk(a)-mediated hemolytic reaction in a liver transplant recipient, caused by passenger donor lymphocytes, is reported here.