Life-threatening adverse reaction followed by thrombocytopenia after passive transfusion of fresh frozen plasma containing anti-CD36 (Nak) isoantibody.
BACKGROUND
Anti-CD36 isoantibody in blood recipients is reported to cause refractoriness to platelet (PLT) transfusions and posttransfusion purpura-like syndrome. There are few reports, however, about the effects of passively transfused blood products containing this isoantibody on recipients.


METHODS
A 67-year-old Japanese woman underwent brain surgery. On the 6th postoperative day, the patient experienced tightness of the chest and nausea after receiving a transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP). When she manifested hypotension, the transfusion was discontinued. No cutaneous manifestation was observed. The patient's condition gradually improved soon after the administration of steroids.


RESULTS
Her pretransfusion PLT count was 17.1 x 10(4) per microL. It decreased to 1.9 x 10(4) per microL 12 hours after transfusion and recovered to 15.4 x 10(4) per microL 8 days after transfusion. The donor of the FFP had a Type I CD36 deficiency. Flow cytometric analysis identified anti-CD36 isoantibody in the FFP. The cross-match between the patient's PLTs and the FFP was positive. The FFP induced the aggregation of PLTs derived from healthy adults.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first reported case of life-threatening adverse effects and thrombocytopenia caused by passively transfused anti-CD36 isoantibody. The possibility of passive infusion of this antibody should be considered in the evaluation of life-threatening transfusion reactions followed by thrombocytopenia.
Morishita
Katsuya
K
Hokkaido Red Cross Blood Center, Sapporo, Japan.
Wakamoto
Shinobu
S
Miyazaki
Toru
T
Sato
Shinichiro
S
Fujihara
Mitsuhiro
M
Kaneko
Sadao
S
Yasuda
Hiroshi
H
Yamamoto
Sadamitsu
S
Azuma
Hiroshi
H
Kato
Toshiaki
T
Ikeda
Hisami
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology*
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D007518:Isoantibodies