Carmen Martins Nogueira

Plasma rico em plaquetas e fatores de crescimento: técnica de preparo e utilização em cirurgia plástica

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous concentration of human platelets in a small volume of plasma. The vast majority of publications reports a significant healing enhancement following its use. This study aim to establish a low-cost method to prepare a platelet-rich plasma and growth factors to be used in plastic surgery. METHODS: Blood was submitted to two centrifugations to obtain platelet-rich plasma. Twenty tests were performed changing the intensity and time of centrifugation, aim to establish the method that achieves the optimal platelet enrichment; and ten tests were performed to confirm the reproducibility of this method. RESULTS: The optimal platelets enrichment, over 4.5 times baseline, values was obtained using 300 g for 10 minutes on the first centrifugation and 640 g for 10 minutes on the second centrifugation. CONCLUSION: Platelet-rich plasma with high platelets counts can be prepared using this method and the gel can be obtained with the addition of autologous thrombin, obtained in the same procedure. This autologous platelet gel enhanced wound healing, therefore showing improved results in skin and bone grafts.

Cryopreservation of peripheral blood stem cell: the influence of cell concentration on cellular and hematopoietic recovery

BACKGROUND: The optimal cryopreservation cell concentration during the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection is a controversial topic. We evaluated the influence of cryopreservation concentration on the recovery of hematopoietic progenitor cells and the kinetics of hematopoietic recovery of autologous stem cell transplant patients.

Hyperhemolysis syndrome in patients with sickle cell anemia: report of three cases

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia. Worsening of anemia after red blood cell (RBC) transfusion has been reported and is often referred to as hyperhemolysis syndrome (HS). HS is a severe transfusion reaction characterized by destruction of both donor and host RBCs.

Risk factors for unsuccessful peripheral blood stem cell harvesting using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma

The aim of this study was to determine factors that influence unsuccessful peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvesting in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Retrospective data of 186 MM patients who received G-CSF as mobilization were analyzed. Patients with successful harvest were compared with those who failed (using 2 definitions of failure <2 and <4 CD34 cells×10(6)/mm(3)). The groups were compared regarding age, gender, body weight, baseline platelet count, receipt of radiotherapy, number of prior chemotherapy regimens, PBSC count before collection, processed and collected volume, collect replace, number of sessions and final number of PBSC collected. By multivariate analysis, a baseline platelet count <161,000 cells/mm(3) was associated with PBSC harvest lower than 2×10(6)/kg, and age >58 years was related to PBSC harvest lower than 4×10(6)/kg CD34 cells/kg. Patients with these parameters should not receive mobilization protocols with G-CSF alone. Alternative protocols should be tested in this high risk harvest failure population.

The incidence of GB virus C / hepatitis G virus infection in Brazilian patients who received blood transfusion during cardiac surgery.

The incidence of GBV‐C/hepatitis G virus (GBV‐C/HGV) infection after blood transfusion is unknown in Brazil. Many studies have so far addressed its relationship with blood transfusion, but its association with liver disease was not confirmed. A prospective study was carried out between 1996 and 1999 in Rio de Janeiro. Ninety three patients who received blood transfusion during cardiac surgery were followed for six months and blood samples were drawn before and after surgery to determine antibodies to GBV‐C/hepatitis G virus (anti‐HGenv) using a step sandwich immunoassay and GBV‐C/HGV‐RNA using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were serially determined as well as clinical data compiled related to hepatitis. Prior to surgery, anti‐HGenv was present in 35.5% (33/93) of patients and 4.3%(4/93) were found to be viremic. Seroconversion following transfusion was observed in 9 patients and 4 additional individuals became viremic for a total incidence of 23% (13/56). Six months after blood transfusion, only 4 of those nine patients previously antibody positive still had anti‐HGenv detectable in serum. No patients had clinical or laboratory evidence of acute hepatitis and no correlation was found with GBV‐C/HGV infection and number of blood units transfused (p = 0.37). This study highlights the importance of using both HGV‐RNA PCR and anti‐HGenv to accurately estimate the magnitude of GBV‐C/HGV infection. The observed high prevalence and incidence rates show that this infection is common in Brazil; however, no clinical or biochemical evidence of liver disease was demonstrated in the period of study and longer longitudinal observation is needed to define any pathogenic effect. J. Med. Virol. 63:237–241, 2001.