Transfusion of ever-pregnant donor red blood cells and mortality of male patients.

Previous studies found exposure to red blood cell transfusions from female donors who have been pregnant reduces survival in male patients compared to exposure to male donor products, but evidence is not consistent. We postulate the previously observed association is modified by offspring sex, with an expected increased mortality risk for male patients receiving units from female donors with sons. Here, marginal structural models were used to assess the association between exposure to units from ever-pregnant donors, ever-pregnant donors with sons and ever-pregnant donors with daughters, and mortality.

Effect of conventional hemodialysis on the apixaban plasma concentration.

Purpose: Apixaban is a factor Xa inhibitor used in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of hemodialysis on apixaban plasma concentrations.

Methods: This observational study is on patients treated with apixaban 2.

Donor pregnancies and transfusion recipient mortality: A role for red blood cell storage?

Background And Objectives: Donor characteristics have been implicated in transfusion-related adverse events. Uncertainty remains about whether sex, and specifically pregnancy history of the blood donor, could affect patient outcomes. Whether storage duration of the blood product could be important for patient outcomes has also been investigated, and a small detrimental effect of fresh products remains a possibility.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of test output in haemostasis laboratories.

Introduction: The high incidence of thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19 affects health care worldwide and results in an increased workload in haemostasis laboratories due to more frequent testing of D-dimer, haemostatic parameters and anti-Xa tests. However, the impact of this increase in assay requests on the quality of performance in haemostasis laboratories remains unclear. In this study, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of performance and management of haemostasis laboratories was evaluated.

The effect of extended c, E and K matching in females under 45 years of age on the incidence of transfusion-induced red blood cell alloimmunisation.

Maternal alloantibodies directed against fetal red blood cell (RBC) antigens may cause potentially life-threatening haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Dutch transfusion guidelines therefore prescribe preventive cEK matching for all (pre-)fertile females. To quantify the impact of cEK matching, we compared overall and antigen-specific cumulative RBC alloimmunisation incidences in females and males aged <45 years.

Von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS13 and mortality in dialysis patients.

Background: Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) multimers are cleaved into smaller and less coagulant forms by the metalloprotease ADAMTS13. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VWF and ADAMTS13 and mortality in dialysis patients.

Methods: We prospectively followed 956 dialysis patients.

Association between renal failure and red blood cell alloimmunization among newly transfused patients.

Background: Renal failure and renal replacement therapy (RRT) affect the immune system and could therefore modulate red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization after transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: We performed a nationwide multicenter case-control study within a source population of newly transfused patients between 2005 and 2015. Using conditional multivariate logistic regression, we compared first-time transfusion-induced RBC alloantibody formers (N = 505) with two nonalloimmunized recipients with similar transfusion burden (N = 1010).

Perioperative bridging of anticoagulation: towards a more reserved approach.

Background: Most invasive procedures require the interruption of oral anticoagulation. In 2015, an international randomised trial demonstrated that perioperative bridging caused more harm than benefit in most anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation, leading to a more restrictive Dutch national guideline in April 2016. The objective of the present study was to analyse the integration of the 2016 Dutch guideline for perioperative antithrombotic management from after publication until update of hospital protocols.

Analytical variation in factor VIII one-stage and chromogenic assays: Experiences from the ECAT external quality assessment programme.

Background: Both one-stage (OSA) and chromogenic substrate assays (CSA) are used to measure factor VIII (FVIII) activity. Factors explaining analytical variation in FVIII activity levels are still to be completely elucidated.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the analytical variation in OSA and CSA.

Age of platelet concentrates and time to the next transfusion.

Background: Storage time of platelet (PLT) concentrates has been negatively associated with clinical efficacy outcomes. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between storage time of PLT concentrates and interval to the next PLT transfusion for different types of PLT components, stored for up to 7 days and transfused to transfusion-dependent hematooncology patients with thrombocytopenia.

Study Design And Methods: From a cohort of patients from 10 major Dutch hospitals, patients were selected whose transfusion patterns were compatible with PLT transfusion dependency due to hematooncologic disease.

Association of Blood Transfusion From Female Donors With and Without a History of Pregnancy With Mortality Among Male and Female Transfusion Recipients.

Importance: Transfusion of red blood cells from female donors has been associated with increased mortality in male recipients.

Objective: To quantify the association between red blood cell transfusion from female donors with and without a history of pregnancy and mortality of red blood cell recipients.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Retrospective cohort study of first-time transfusion recipients at 6 major Dutch hospitals enrolled from May 30, 2005, to September 1, 2015; the final follow-up date was September 1, 2015.

Effects of time and temperature on 48 routine chemistry, haematology and coagulation analytes in whole blood samples.

Background Phlebotomy for the purpose of blood analysis is often performed at remote locations, and samples are usually temporarily stored before transport to a central laboratory for analysis. The circumstances during storage and shipment may not meet the necessary requirements. If analysed anyway, false results may be generated.

Treatments for hematologic malignancies in contrast to those for solid cancers are associated with reduced red cell alloimmunization.

Red cell alloimmunization may induce severe hemolytic side effects. Identification of risk-modifying conditions will help tailor preventative strategies. This study aims to quantify the associations of hematologic malignancies and solid cancers with red cell alloimmunization in patients receiving red cell transfusions.

Red cell alloimmunisation in patients with different types of infections.

Red cell alloantigen exposure can cause alloantibody-associated morbidity. Murine models have suggested that inflammation modulates red cell alloimmunisation. This study quantifies alloimmunisation risks during infectious episodes in humans.

Red-blood-cell alloimmunisation in relation to antigens' exposure and their immunogenicity: a cohort study.

Background: Matching donor red blood cells based on recipient antigens prevents alloimmunisation. Knowledge about the immunogenicity of red-blood-cell antigens can help optimise risk-adapted matching strategies. We set out to assess the immunogenicity of red-blood-cell antigens.

Point-of-care monitoring of vitamin K-antagonists: validation of CoaguChek XS test strips with International Standard thromboplastin.

Aims: Many patients treated with vitamin K-antagonists (VKA) use point-of-care (POC) whole blood coagulometers for self-testing. The majority of patients in the Netherlands use one type of POC coagulometer, that is, the CoaguChek XS. Each new lot of test strips for the CoaguChek XS is validated by a group of collaborating thrombosis centres.

Plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor predicts mortality in patients on chronic renal replacement therapy.

Background: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors do not explain the high incidence of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease. A prothrombotic state could accelerate the process of vascular disease in these patients.

Methods: In this study, four platelet activation markers (NAP-2, P-selectin, GP1b and RANTES) and two endothelial cell activation markers (von Willebrand factor and its propeptide) were measured in 671 haemodialysis patients and 275 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD).

[Resistance to coumarin derivatives due to mutated vitamin-K enzyme].

In 2006 a case report was published in this journal describing partial acenocoumarol- and phenprocoumon resistance in a 78-year-old man. A mutation in the VKORC1 gene was suggested to be the cause of the observed resistance. We examined the patient and found a new and hitherto unknown mutation in the VKORC1 gene which may well explain the observed resistance.