[Blood clots in erythrocyte concentrates during transfusion].
BACKGROUND
The presence of multiple blood clots in leucocyte-depleted erythrocyte concentrates during a transfusion gave rise to an investigation to find the exact cause.


METHODS
Determination of the various blood group systems was carried out using the gel centrifugation method and also the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using sequence-specific primers. In addition the human leucocyte antigens (HLA) class 1 and class 2 markers were determined with molecular biological methods.


RESULTS
The erythrocytes in the blood bags containing the blood clots showed a mixed-field agglutination in each blood group where the donor and recipient had different phenotypes. The HLA groups, however, could be solely attributed to the patient, since during the preparation of erythrocyte concentrates all leucocytes are removed and only very few residual cells containing DNA are present.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed report on blood clots from patient blood in erythrocyte concentrates, which occurred during a transfusion. The retrograde filling of the blood bag with patient blood during the transfusion led to coagulation in the bag. Therefore, careful attention must be taken when dealing with stored blood and corresponding training must be regularly carried out.
Wagner
T
T
Univ. Klinik für Blutgruppenserologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria. thomas.wagner@meduni-graz.at
Drexler
C
C
Kröll
W
W
Jüngling
G
G
Lanzer
G
G
Gabriel
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000371:Agglutination; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002498:Centrifugation; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D017931:DNA Primers; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000235:genetics; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D019064:Product Packaging; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D017931:DNA Primers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA