Consider Leukocyte-Depleted Blood in Patients who are Immunosuppressed



Consider Leukocyte-Depleted Blood in Patients who are Immunosuppressed


Mehmet Ozcan MD

Praveen Kalra MD



Leukocytes in allogenic blood products have been shown to cause several transfusion-related adverse reactions and complications. Leukocyte depletion of cellular blood products has been shown to reduce risks such as alloimmunization against donor leukocyte antigens, transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV), and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction. Immunosuppressed patients and potential recipients of organ transplants are especially vulnerable to those adverse effects and deserve consideration of administration of leukocyte-depleted blood products when indicated.


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Alloimmunization against donor leukocyte antigens may potentially cause rejection of solid-organ transplants via cross-immunization. This is mediated by the HLA-antigen system. Matching of HLA antigens is most important for kidney and heart transplants and least important for liver transplants. Therefore, using leukocyte-depleted blood products to prevent HLA alloimmunization is most logical for potential recipients of kidney and heart transplants. In liver transplantation, leukocytes in the intraoperatively administered blood have been suggested as a contributor of acute cellular rejection via an inflammatory cascade, although there are no randomized, controlled trials to support the benefit of leukocyte depletion for this indication. Overall, there is reasonable evidence for the benefit of using leukocyte-depleted blood products to prevent graft rejection in future recipients of kidney transplants, whereas the data are insufficient regarding heart transplants. Leukocyte-depleted blood products are not indicated for liver transplant candidates, at least for the purpose of preventing HLA alloimmunization.

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Jul 1, 2016 | Posted by in ANESTHESIA | Comments Off on Consider Leukocyte-Depleted Blood in Patients who are Immunosuppressed

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