title: Chronic red blood cell exchange to prevent clinical complications in sickle cell disease.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Centro diagnosi e Cura della Talassemia, Azienda Ospedaliera, Civile-M.P. Arezzo P.zza Igea 1 97100 Ragusa, Italy. scabibbo@ospedaleragusa.it
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabibbo
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fidone
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garozzo
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antolino
authors.forename: Giovanna Oriella
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Manenti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bennardello
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Licitra
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Travali
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Distefano
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomo
mesh_terms: 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