Mary Ellen Wissel

The American Red Cross donor hemovigilance program: complications of blood donation reported in 2006

BACKGROUND: The American Red Cross (ARC) initiated a comprehensive donor hemovigilance program in 2003. We provide an overview of reported complications after whole blood (WB), apheresis platelet (PLT), or automated red cell (R2) donation and analyze factors contributing to the variability in reported complication rates in our national program.

A phase III trial of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in nonanemic orthopedic patients subjected to aggressive removal of blood for autologous use: dose, response, toxicity, and efficacy

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical trials have shown that the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) can facilitate autologous blood donation and reduce allogeneic blood transfusions in autologous blood donors who are anemic at first donation. However, the role of EPO therapy in nonanemic patients remains undefined. To identify this role, a randomized, controlled, multicenter dose‐escalation trial was conducted in patients whose initial hematocrit was > 39 percent (0.39).

Predonation hydration and applied muscle tension combine to reduce presyncopal reactions to blood donation

BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of hydration and applied muscle tensing on presyncopal reactions to blood donation. Both interventions are designed to prevent the decreases in blood pressure that can contribute to such reactions, but due to the distinct physiologic mechanisms underlying their pressor responses it was hypothesized that a combined intervention would yield the greatest benefit.

Enhancing blood donation intentions using multimedia donor education materials

BACKGROUND: Prior research has shown that education materials that directly address prospective donor concerns and provide specific coping suggestions are particularly effective at enhancing donation attitudes and intentions to give blood. This study compared the effect of donor coping materials, provided in written and audiovisual formats, as potential tools to enhance recruitment of prospective blood donors. The role of initial attitudes toward blood donation on responses to these materials was also considered.

Erythropoietin response to anaemia is not altered by surgery or recombinant human erythropoietin therapy

Summary. Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) therapy has been shown to increase red blood cell (RBC) production and facilitate autologous blood donation before elective surgery. However, recent reports have suggested that surgery and/or EPO therapy may suppress endogenous erythropoietin secretion in response to anaemia. We therefore analysed the haemoglobin/erythropoietin relationship preoperatively and postoperatively in 71 autologous blood donors subjected to aggressive phlebotomy and six treatments with either EPO (150U/kg, n=16, 300U/kg, n=18, or 600 U/kg, n=19) or placebo (n=18). Using data from the three prepoerative study visit, the linear relationship between log erythropoietin and haemoglobin was determined for each of the 18 placebo patients. We found no significant differences in the slopes of the relationships in this group during aggressive phlebotomy. Furthermore, there was no evidence of a significant difference in the erythropoietin level recorded postoperatively for each patient to that predicted from the patients postoperative haemoglobin level, based on the haemoglobin/log erythropoietin relationship preoperatively. Similarly, for each of the EPO‐treated groups, there was no evidence of a significant difference when comparing the recorded erythropoietin level to that predicted from each patients postoperative haemoglobin level, based on the haemoglobin/log erythropoietin relationship preoperatively. We conclude that preoperative recombinant human erythropoietin therapy and/or surgery do not adversely affect the postoperative erythropoietin response to anaemia.

Donor anxiety, needle pain, and syncopal reactions combine to determine retention: A path analysis of two-year donor return data

Efforts to expand the donor pool by recruiting younger donors have resulted in higher numbers of initial donations, but retention of young donors continues to be challenging.

Enhancing cerebral oxygenation during blood donation using biofeedback

Biofeedback of cerebral oxygenation was used to guide application of applied muscle tension during whole blood donation, and resulted in attenuated reductions compared to donors who did not receive feedback.