title: A prospective study on the use of leucocyte-filters in reducing blood transfusion reactions in multi-transfused thalassemic children.
abstract: Two hundred and eleven blood transfusions were administered to 26 multi-transfused thalassemic children (aged 9 months-13 years) over a 6-month period. Eighteen children were receiving buffy coat-poor packed red cells (PRC) prepared by centrifuge while 8 children received filtered blood through a leucocyte-filter (Sepacell R-500A). Transfusion reactions occurred in 8.5% (n = 18) of transfusions and in 42.3% (n = 11) of patients. 11.9% (n = 16) and 2.6% (n = 2) of reactions occurred in 50% (n = 9) and 25% (n = 2) of patients receiving buffy coat-poor PRC and filtered blood respectively. Transfusion reactions in toto were significantly reduced in the group receiving filtered blood (p < 0.05). However, febrile reaction alone was not significantly reduced (p > 0.1). The median onset and duration of reaction were 2 hours (range 10 minutes-18 hours) and 4 hours (range 1/2-24 hours) respectively. 72.2% (n = 13) of the reactions occurred occurred during transfusion. 88.8% (n = 16) of the reactions caused only one symptom. 19.2% (n = 5) of all patients had recurrent reactions, all of them receiving buffy coat-poor PRC. The commonest clinical manifestation was fever (n = 7), followed by urticaria (n = 5) and petechial rash (n = 2). The outcome was good, with no patient experiencing symptoms exceeding 24 hours. Only 0.9% (n = 2) of the transfusions were discontinued.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Unit, Penang General Hospital, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002744:Chlorpheniramine