Transfusion of platelet components prepared with photochemical pathogen inactivation treatment during a Chikungunya virus epidemic in Ile de La Réunion.
BACKGROUND
During the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) epidemic on Ile de La Réunion, France, more than 30% of 750,000 inhabitants were infected. Local blood donation was suspended to prevent transfusion-transmitted infection (TT-CHIKV). To sustain the availability of platelet (PLT) components, the Etablissement Français du Sang implemented universal pathogen inactivation (INTERCEPT, Cerus Europe BV) of PLT components (CPAs). The study assessed the safety of PLT components treated with pathogen inactivation transfused in routine clinical practice.


METHODS
This was a retrospective observational study using patient medical records and the AFSSAPS hemovigilance database (eFIT) to identify TT-CHIKV and adverse events (AEs) classified as acute transfusion reactions (ATRs) to PLT components prepared with pathogen inactivation.


RESULTS
During 1 year, 1950 INTERCEPT-CPAs were transfused to 335 adult, 51 pediatric, and 41 infant patients. Nineteen AEs were observed in 15 patients and 10 were classified as ATRs. Eight ATRs occurred in 6 pediatric hematology-oncology patients. No ATRs were observed in infants. The most frequently reported signs and symptoms were Grade 1 urticaria, itching, chills, fever, and anxiety. No cases of transfusion-related acute lung injury, TT-sepsis, or TT-CHIKV were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
INTERCEPT-CPAs were well tolerated in a broad range of patients, including infants. ATR incidence was low and when present ATRs were of mild severity.
Rasonglès
Patrice
P
EFS Ile de La Réunion, St Denis, Ile de La Réunion, France.
Angelini-Tibert
Marie France
MF
Simon
Philip
P
Currie
Caroline
C
Isola
Herve
H
Kientz
Daniel
D
Slaedts
Marc
M
Jacquet
Michele
M
Sundin
David
D
Lin
Lily
L
Corash
Laurence
L
Cazenave
Jean Pierre
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010777:Photochemistry; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D011564:Furocoumarins; C118577:amotosalen