Maria Macher

Stability of coagulation factors in thawed, solvent/detergent-treated plasma during storage at 4 °C for 6 days

Background and Objectives  Transfusion of fresh‐frozen plasma is still a pillar in emergency medicine for using to prevent dilutional coagulopathy or disseminated intravascular coagulation after severe blood loss, but thawing procedures can delay its availability. On the other hand, the wastage of plasma, once thawed and not transfused within a defined time‐period, represents an inefficient handling of economic resources and is contradictory to blood donor intentions. In this study we investigated the stability of coagulation factor activities and plasma protein levels during 6 days of storage of thawed solvent/detergent (S/D)‐treated plasma at +4 °C. Our results may form the basis for reconsideration of expiry times of thawed S/D‐treated plasma.

Reduction of adverse citrate reactions during autologous large‐volume PBPC apheresis by continuous infusion of calcium‐gluconate

BACKGROUND:  Citrate‐related side effects are common adverse reactions during PBPC apheresis. To reduce the incidence of citrate‐related reactions, the effect of a continuous calcium‐gluconate infusion on the appearance of hypocalcemic symptoms and on the subjective tolerance toward large‐volume leukapheresis (LVL) was tested.

Donor exposure to the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate during plateletpheresis†

BACKGROUND: Di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer that is contained in most PVC devices, including apheresis disposables. Because DEHP can be extracted from apheresis disposables as the blood passes through the apheresis device, DEHP exposure was determined in healthy donors undergoing plateletpheresis performed with commercially available apheresis systems.

Transfusion‐related exposure to the plasticizer di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate in patients receiving plateletpheresis concentrates

BACKGROUND: Di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer that can leach from medical devices including storage bags for plateletpheresis concentrates (PCs). In this study, the DEHP exposure to patients receiving PCs was determined and several variables were evaluated to reduce DEHP load to PC recipients.

Lack of impact of ABO blood group or corresponding isoantibodies on the immune response after rabies vaccination

SummaryDemand for rabies hyperimmunoglobulin has increased recently, requiring optimization of vaccination schemes for immunized plasma donors. Possible resemblance of rabies vaccine to blood group antigens and consequential association of the immune response to rabies vaccine and blood group or corresponding isoantibodies has not yet been investigated. We analyzed anti-rabies antibodies after rabies vaccination and ABO blood group in 142 individuals, and isoantibody titers in 92 of those individuals. We did not find any correlation of the immune response with blood group or isoantibody levels. There was also no correlation with the sex of individuals, but there was a weak correlation between age and rabies-specific antibody level. Rabies vaccination schemes for immunized donors cannot be optimized on the basis of blood groups or isoantibody titers.ZusammenfassungIn letzter Zeit ist die Nachfrage nach Rabies-Hyperimmunglobulin stark gestiegen. Daher sollten optimale Rabies-Impfschemata für immunisierte Plasmaspender gefunden werden. Eine eventuelle Ähnlichkeit von Rabies- und Blutgruppen-Antigenen und ein daraus resultierender Zusammenhang zwischen dem Impferfolg nach Rabies-Impfung und der Blutgruppe bzw. der Titerhöhe der korrespondierenden Isoantikörper wurde bisher noch nicht untersucht. Wir bestimmten Rabies-Antikörper nach Impfung und Blutgruppen von 142 Personen sowie Isoantikörper in 92 dieser Personen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen keinen Zusammenhang zwischen Impferfolg nach Rabies-Impfung und Blutgruppe oder Titer der Isoantikörper. Ebenso konnten wir keinen Zusammenhang zwischen Geschlecht und Impferfolg sehen, wohl aber eine schwache Korrelation zwischen Alter und Höhe der Rabies-spezifischen Antikörper nach Impfung. Rabies-Impfschemata für Plasmaspender können also nicht durch Abstimmung auf Blutgruppe oder Titer der Isoantikörper optimiert werden.