Chronic red blood cell exchange to prevent clinical complications in sickle cell disease.
We tracked the results of 394 manual or automatic red blood cell exchanges done with a cell separator in 20 sickle cell patients at high risk for recurrent complications. Over an average of 6 years, none of the patients developed complications related to the procedure or to the increased blood use. It was safe and effective in preventing complications of sickle cell disease, and if done automatically, reduced iron overload. Ferritin levels also decreased in patients treated with automatic red blood cell exchange. Furthermore, using Single Donor Red Blood Cell units (SDRC) we reduced the potential exposure to transfusion transmitted infectious diseases (TTI).
Cabibbo
Sergio
S
Centro diagnosi e Cura della Talassemia, Azienda Ospedaliera, Civile-M.P. Arezzo P.zza Igea 1 97100 Ragusa, Italy. scabibbo@ospedaleragusa.it
Fidone
Carmelo
C
Garozzo
Giovanni
G
Antolino
Agostino
A
Manenti
Giovanna Oriella
GO
Bennardello
Francesco
F
Licitra
Vincenzo
V
Calabrese
Salvatore
S
Costantino
Francesco
F
Travali
Simone
S
Distefano
Roberto
R
Bonomo
Pietro
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention