Successful transfer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity using convalescent plasma in an MM patient with hypogammaglobulinemia and COVID-19.

A severely immunocompromised patient with MM and COVID19 who received a convalescent plasma product showed SARS-CoV-2 clearance. The convalescent plasma showed humoral immunity against all structural SARS-CoV-2 proteins, which was successfully transferred to the patient.

The comparative safety of bacterial risk control strategies for platelet components: a simulation study.

Background: Bacterial contamination of platelets is a problem that can lead to harmful septic transfusion reactions. The US Food and Drug Administration published a guidance in September 2019 detailing several permissible risk control strategies. Our objective was to compare the safety of each bacterial testing strategy for apheresis platelets.

The association of inpatient blood utilization and diagnosis-related group weight: implications for risk-adjusted benchmarking.

Background: Risk-adjusted benchmarking could be useful to compare blood utilization between hospitals or individual groups, such as physicians, while accounting for differences in patient complexity. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of red blood cell (RBC) use and diagnosis-related group (DRG) weights across all inpatient hospital stays to determine the suitability of using DRGs for between-hospital risk-adjusted benchmarking. Specific hierarchical organizational units (surgical vs.

Quality Improvement After Multiple Fatal Transfusion-Transmitted Bacterial Infections.

Objectives: Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection (TTBI) from platelet components is likely underrecognized and can be fatal. Twenty-four-hour prospective culture was felt to be insufficiently preventive after multiple TTBIs occurred and strategies to improve safety were sought.

Methods: Two fatal and one severe TTBIs occurred from a split-apheresis platelet donation contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Intravenous immune globulin therapy for Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis complicated by hemolysis leading to pigment nephropathy and hemodialysis.

Background: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is generally thought to be of relatively low risk for adverse events and some experts consider this to be the best treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Objective: We evaluated the underlying cause of anemia and renal failure in 2 consecutive patients being treated with IVIG for Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review.

Bacteria differentially induce degradation of Bcl-xL, a survival protein, by human platelets.

Bacteria can enter the bloodstream in response to infectious insults. Bacteremia elicits several immune and clinical complications, including thrombocytopenia. A primary cause of thrombocytopenia is shortened survival of platelets.

Managing transfusion service quality.

Context: Providing blood products for transfusions is a complex process subject to errors both within and outside the transfusion service. Transfusion-related errors can have grave consequences for the patient undergoing transfusion. As with many processes performed within health care systems, there is an expectation of error-free practice.

The utility of patient characteristics in predicting severe ADAMTS13 deficiency and response to plasma exchange.

Background: Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare form of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by extreme deficiency of ADAMTS13, an enzyme responsible for cleavage of von Willebrand factor. Plasma exchange therapy is the cornerstone of current treatment and is ineffective for most other forms of TMA. The availability of ADAMTS13 testing has improved diagnostic accuracy and appropriate selection of patients who are most likely to respond to plasma exchange.

Anucleate platelets generate progeny.

Platelets are classified as terminally differentiated cells that are incapable of cellular division. However, we observe that anucleate human platelets, either maintained in suspension culture or captured in microdrops, give rise to new cell bodies packed with respiring mitochondria and alpha-granules. Platelet progeny formation also occurs in whole blood cultures.

Teaching pediatric laboratory medicine to pathology residents.

Context: Laboratory data are essential to the medical care of fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents. However, the performance and interpretation of laboratory tests on specimens from these patients, which may constitute a significant component of the workload in general hospitals and integrated health care systems as well as specialized perinatal or pediatric centers, present unique challenges to the clinical pathologist and the laboratory. Therefore, pathology residents should receive training in pediatric laboratory medicine.

Plasmapheresis for the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy refractory to medical treatment.

Pruritus associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is usually mild but some cases are refractory to medical treatment. We report a case of intractable ICP that was successfully treated with plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis should be considered for ICP that is refractory to traditional therapies.