Document 0255
 DOCN  M95B0255
 TI    Transfusion practices in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
 DT    9511
 AU    Popovsky MA; Benson K; Glassman AB; Hume H; Oberman HA; Pisciotto PT;
       Anderson KC; American Red Cross Blood Services, New England Region,
       Dedham,; Massachusetts, USA.
 SO    Transfusion. 1995 Jul;35(7):612-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95357887
 AB    BACKGROUND: The reported immunomodulatory effects of transfusion raise
       concern about the potential for virus activation and tumor growth in
       human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. In the absence of
       standards of transfusion practice for such patients, a survey of
       transfusion policies among institutions specializing in the care of
       HIV-infected patients was performed to delineate current practices.
       STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A survey developed by the Transfusion
       Practices Committee of the American Association of Blood Banks was sent
       to 47 AIDS clinical trial units and 14 regional hemophilia centers in
       North America. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of centers completed the
       survey. Most centers observed more than 200 HIV-infected patients each.
       The key findings were that 1) 81 percent of centers used identical red
       cell transfusion criteria for HIV-infected and noninfected patients; 2)
       52 percent used recombinant human erythropoietin as initial treatment
       for zidovudine-induced anemia, while 46 percent used recombinant human
       erythropoietin for anemia not associated with zidovudine; 3) 35 percent
       of centers used white cell-reduced blood components in lieu of
       cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative components when administering
       transfusion(s) to CMV-seronegative patients; 4) 27 percent
       gamma-radiated cellular components, but no case of graft-versus-host
       disease had been observed; 5) > 85 percent of centers used monoclonal
       factor VIII for pediatric and adult hemophiliacs infected with HIV; 6)
       approximately one-third of centers routinely white cell-reduced cellular
       components; and 7) the most common reasons for white cell reduction
       included reduction of febrile reactions and CMV risk, reduction of
       platelet alloimmunization, and delay of immunomodulatory consequences of
       transfusion. CONCLUSION: There is marked heterogeneity in transfusion
       practice for HIV-infected patients. Modification of cellular components
       to achieve different objectives is routine in many centers.
 DE    *Blood Transfusion  Human  HIV Infections/*THERAPY  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       MULTICENTER STUDY

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