The risk of transmitting prion disease by blood or plasma products.
Various experimental studies have shown infectivity in blood in relation to bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Human to human transmission vCJD infection has been reported via transfusion of non-leukocyte-reduced red cells and, probably, via factor VIII concentrates. A number of precautionary measures are in place but uncertainties remain, especially concerning the number of BSE-infected people in the population. Additional measures such as prion filtration need consideration.
UK National CJD Surveillance Unit, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Electronic address: R.Knight@ed.ac.uk.
Richard
R
Knight
D000818:Animals; D058731:Blood Safety; D002417:Cattle; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000635:transmission; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000635:transmission; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005169:Factor VIII; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D012306:Risk; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D005169:Factor VIII