Autologous blood donation: hemodynamics in a high-risk patient population.

Transfusion practices have changed dramatically in recent years as a result of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome crisis. The use of preoperative donation of autologous blood units has gained popularity. Healthy individuals tolerate phlebotomy well, experiencing a 2- to 5-percent incidence of vasovagal reactions.

Computerization of plateletpheresis quality control records with a commercially available spreadsheet program.

Many apheresis units lack the resources to acquire customized computer software for record keeping. We have adapted a commercially available "spreadsheet" program (Lotus 1-2-3) to aid in quality control activities for plateletpheresis. Data are entered in a grid pattern wherein each donation occupies one row and successive columns contain numerical data derived from the donation.

Alloimmunization to RhD by platelet transfusions in autologous bone marrow transplant recipients.

Platelet transfusions from RhD-positive (D-positive) donors are often given to RhD-negative (D-negative) cancer patients. The low observed rate of alloimmunization has been attributed to disease and therapy-related immunosuppression. We have studied the occurrence of alloimmunization in 16 D-negative patients who did not have detectable anti-D prior to autologous bone marrow transplantation for malignant disease.

Treatment of von Willebrand's disease and hypofibrinogenemia with single donor cryoprecipitate from plasma exchange donation.

Conventional replacement therapy for hypofibrinogenemia and von Willebrand's disease requires multiple donor exposures and a correspondingly high risk of blood-borne infection. We describe the collection and successful use of cryoprecipitate derived from a single donor by plasma exchange donation to support such patients through major hemostatic stresses. The father of an epileptic patient with von Willebrand's disease produced cryoprecipitate containing 23,546 units of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in nine desmopressin-stimulated donations; this provided total factor replacement for neurosurgery to remove a seizure focus.