Blood Transfus 2018 May;16(Supplement no. 1):s3-s234

Blood Transfus 2018 May 3:1-2. Epub 2018 May 3.

Etablissement Français du Sang Île de France, France.

Blood Transfus 2018 Apr 9:1-11. Epub 2018 Apr 9.

Regional Blood Centre of Emilia-Romagna, "Maggiore" Hospital, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Foetal RHD genotyping can be predicted by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using cell-free foetal DNA extracted from maternal plasma. The object of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of non-invasive RHD foetal genotyping, using a commercial multiple-exon assay, as a guide to appropriate administration of targeted antenatal immunoprophylaxis.

Material And Methods: Cell-free foetal DNA was extracted from plasma of RhD-negative women between 11-30 weeks of pregnancy. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 May 11:1-6. Epub 2018 May 11.

Department of Anaesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CVK), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Germany.

Background: Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) with a specific inhibition of activated factor X (FXa). In case of bleeding or need of urgent surgery a direct antidote is not yet available. Off-label application of non-specific haemostatic agents, such as prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa), has been reported to reverse the effects of apixaban in in vitro and animal studies. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Apr 4. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Navarra Blood and Tissue Bank, Pamplona, Spain.

Blood Transfus 2018 May 4:1-9. Epub 2018 May 4.

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Background: In Europe, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is mainly a food-borne zoonosis, but it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. It is usually a mild and self-limited infection. However, immunocompromised persons, who are also those more likely to undergo blood transfusions, may develop chronic hepatitis and often cirrhosis. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Apr 13:1-7. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

Paediatric Onco-haematology Unit, Azienda "Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele", Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2018 May 8:1-5. Epub 2018 May 8.

Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, "Carlo Poma" Hospital, Mantua, Italy.

The diagnostic approach to patients with intravascular haemolysis remains challenging, since no first-line laboratory test seems to be entirely suitable for the screening of this condition. Recent evidence shows that an enhanced cell-free haemoglobin (fHb) concentration in serum or plasma is a reliable marker of red blood cell injury, and may also predict clinical outcomes in patients with different forms of haemolytic anaemias. However, the routine use of the haemiglobincyanide assay, the current reference method for measuring fHb, seems unsuitable for a timely diagnosis of intravascular haemolysis, for many safety and practical reasons. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Apr 3:1-10. Epub 2018 Apr 3.

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Background: A number of clinical systematic review and meta-analysis have been published on the use of tranexamic in the obstetric setting. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss when given prior to caesarean delivery.

Materials And Methods: We searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialized Register, Cochrane Central, MEDLINE (through PUBMED), Embase, and SCOPUS electronic databases. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Apr 4:1-5. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Department of Anesthesiology, Magee Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.

Background: Blood clots discovered within body cavities intra-operatively are often manually broken up and placed in an autotransfusion device to recover autologous blood cells. This study evaluated the efficiency at which these red blood cells can be recovered from clot and to determine if these cells would be free of fibrin and clumping which might pose a risk of micro-emboli.

Materials And Methods: Whole blood was aliquoted into 25 mL volume samples. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 May 3:1-2. Epub 2018 May 3.

Haematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 28:1-12. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

Transfusion Service, Haemophilia Centre and Haematology, Castelfranco Veneto Hospital, Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.

Background: Since 2001, we have used conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) as our first choice for F9 gene mutation screening, leading to the identification of about 300 mutations causing haemophilia B (HB). To circumvent the disadvantages of CSGE, we recently evaluated high-resolution melting analysis (HRM), which represents the next-generation mutation scanning technology.

Materials And Methods: In order to explore and validate HRM as a new screening method, we analysed 26 HB patients with previous CSGE-detected mutations, 22 patients with CSGE-undetectable mutations and 13 HB patients who had not been previously investigated. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 14:1-12. Epub 2018 Feb 14.

Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America.

Blood Transfus 2018 Mar 5:1-2. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 14:1-5. Epub 2018 Feb 14.

Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

One of the most challenging issues facing us in the treatment of haemophilia is the development of alloantibodies against infused factor VIII (FVIII) or factor IX (FIX). Inhibitors render factor replacement therapy ineffective, exposing patients to an unacceptably high risk of morbidity and mortality. Besides the well-known bypassing agents (i. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Jan 11:1-6. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

INCTs, Unicamp Blood Centre, Campinas, Brazil.

Background: Vel is a high frequency blood group antigen and its alloantibody is involved in haemolytic transfusion reactions. After elucidation of the molecular basis of the Vel-negative phenotype defined by a 17-base pair deletion in SMIM1, genotyping has been the technique of choice to identify the Vel-negative phenotype, and molecular investigations have contributed to explain Vel expression variability. The present study was aimed at screening for Vel negative blood donors and characterising the genetic changes found in Brazilian donors with altered Vel expression. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 15:1-6. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Psychiatric Hospital "Sveti Ivan", Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: The prevalence of ABO alleles is different in different populations, and many studies have shown a correlation between the occurrences of some diseases and different genotypes of ABO blood groups. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant association between psychiatric syndromes and ABO blood groups.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study involved 156 psychiatric patients and 303 healthy, unrelated, voluntary blood donors. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Mar 5:1-5. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, "Parc Taulí" University Hospital, Research and Innovation Institute "Parc Taulí I3PT", Sabadell, Spain.

Background: Evidence on the role of intravenous iron (IVI) supplementation after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery is rather scant. This study was aimed at assessing the benefit of postoperative IVI administration after elective CRC surgery at our institution.

Materials And Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective observational study including all patients who underwent CRC surgery during 2014. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 May 26;16(3):235-243. Epub 2018 Feb 26.

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Background: Thrombelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) are viscoelastic haemostatic assays (VHA) which exploit the elastic properties of clotting blood. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the usefulness of these tests in bleeding patients outside the cardiac surgical setting.

Materials And Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Jan 16:1-7. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Genetic Diagnosis Centre, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Background: Identification of RhD antigen epitopes is a key component in understanding the pathogenesis of haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn. Research has indicated that phage display libraries are useful tools for identifying novel mimic epitopes (mimotopes) which may help to determine antigen specificity.

Materials And Methods: We selected the mimotopes of blood group RhD antigen by affinity panning a phage display library using monoclonal anti-D. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 16:1-17. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.

Background: Patient blood management (PBM) is a multidisciplinary concept focused on the management of anaemia, minimisation of iatrogenic blood loss and rational use of allogeneic blood products. The aims of this study were: (i) to analyse post-operative outcome in patients with liberal vs restrictive exposure to allogeneic blood products and (ii) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PBM in patients undergoing surgery.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to compare post-operative complications in predominantly non-transfused patients (restrictive transfusion group) and patients who received one to three units of red blood cells (liberal transfusion group). Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 May 5;16(3):224-226. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli", Area of Haematological Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2018 Mar 2:1-2. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Haematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2018 Jan;16(1):36-43

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Among the various pharmacological options to decrease peri-operative bleeding, tranexamic acid appears to be one of the most interesting. Several trials have consistently documented the efficacy of this synthetic drug in reducing the risk of blood loss and the need for allogeneic blood transfusion in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. The safety of intravenous tranexamic acid in major orthopaedic surgery, particularly regarding the risk of venous thromboembolism, was systematically analysed in this review. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Nov 27:1-8. Epub 2017 Nov 27.

Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium.

Background: Blood transfusions save lives, but carry the risk of causing transfusion-transmitted diseases. This risk is limited by strict donor selection criteria, the most controversial being the exclusion of men who had sex with men (MSM). This cross-sectional study investigated knowledge and beliefs of the general public concerning donor exclusion criteria, with emphasis on MSM. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Nov 14:1-9. Epub 2017 Nov 14.

Medical School University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

Mild haemophilia is defined by factor levels between 0.05 and 0.40 IU/mL and is characterised by traumatic bleeds. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Dec 22. Epub 2017 Dec 22.

"A. Bianchi Bonomi" Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, "Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico" and Luigi Villa" Foundation, Milan, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 May 26:1-11. Epub 2017 May 26.

Division of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, "L. Sacco" University Hospital and Department of Oncology and Haematology Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Recent advances in the care of von Willebrand 's disease (vWD) have allowed the majority of patients to be managed adequately. Even in the more severe forms, it is now possible to control recurrent bleeding through secondary long-term prophylaxis with von Willebrand factor-containing concentrates. Moreover, in the setting of surgical prophylaxis, the combination of interdisciplinary management and close patient monitoring yields a positive outcome in nearly all cases, although safety concerns remain. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Nov 7;15(Suppl 4):s519-s562. Epub 2017 Nov 7.

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep 13:1-9. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hospital Institutes, Cremona, Italy.

Although direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) do not require dose-adjustment on the basis of laboratory test results, the measurement of their anticoagulant effect is useful in special situations. This position paper issued by the Italian Scientific Societies that are mainly involved in the management of patients on DOAC is aimed at providing guidance to care-givers on which tests should be used and the situations in which testing is useful. The guidance is based on the data from the literature so far available and/or on consensus among experts. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep 29:1-4. Epub 2017 Sep 29.

Department of Anesthesiology, Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.

Background: The safety and effectiveness of cell salvage for vaginal delivery is unknown. This case series aimed to assess the utility and adverse events related to the use of cell salvage for maternal haemorrhage during vaginal delivery.

Materials And Methods: A cohort study design was chosen, focused on postpartum haemorrhages that occurred after vaginal delivery for which cell salvage equipment was requested to be set up in the labour and delivery room outside of a sterile operating room environment. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Oct 3. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

Department of Pharmacoeconomics, Thought Semantics LLC, Sterling, VA, United States of America.

Blood Transfus 2017 Oct 30:1-4. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Department of Pathology, CHI St. Luke's Health - Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America.

Background: The need for thawed cryoprecipitate is growing. However, according to current guidelines, the shelf-life of pooled thawed cryoprecipitate at room temperature is limited because of possible bacterial contamination and loss of clotting factor activity. Here we assessed microbial growth and retention of clotting activity in cryoprecipitate stored at 4 °C after thawing to see whether its shelf life could be safely extended. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Oct 26:1-3. Epub 2017 Oct 26.

Laboratory for Clinical Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry; Cardiovascular School of Medicine (CARIM) and Thrombosis Expert Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Blood Transfus 2017 10;15(6):585-586

Immunohaematology and Transfusion Medicine Service, S. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Bologna, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 10;15(6):502-505

Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 10;15(6):489-490

Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep;15(Supplement no. 3):s475-s518

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep;15(5):422-437

Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States of America.

The prevention and treatment of iron deficiency is a major public health goal. Challenges in the treatment of iron deficiency include finding and addressing the underlying cause and the selection of an iron replacement product which meets the needs of the patient. However, there are a number of non-evidence-based misconceptions regarding the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, as well as inconsistency of terminology and lack of clear guidance on clinical pathways. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 09;15(5):379-381

Veneto Region Referral Centre for Iron Metabolism Disorders, Centre of Excellence, European Reference Network for Rare Haematological Disorders "EuroBloodNet", Department of Medicine, Integrated University Hospital, Policlinico "G.B. Rossi", Verona, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 May 26:1-3. Epub 2017 May 26.

Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Università degli Studi di Milano"; "Angelo Bianchi Bonomi" Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, "Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico", Milan, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep 16;15(5):478-486. Epub 2017 May 16.

Centre for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, "Careggi" University Hospital, Florence, Italy.

The clinical profile and expectations of haemophilic patients with inhibitors have changed over the last three decades, mainly because of the prolongation of life-expectancy, often resulting in an increase of the orthopaedic burden. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is the most frequently used bypassing agent in haemophilia patients with inhibitors during elective orthopaedic surgery. For nearly 30 years, rFVIIa has been successfully used to control haemostasis in several major and minor surgical procedures. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 15;16(2):215-220. Epub 2017 May 15.

"A. Bianchi Bonomi" Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, "Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico", Milan, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 Jun 30:1-8. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Department of Medicine, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy.

Background: The Italian Registry of Thrombosis in Children (RITI) was established by a multidisciplinary team with the aims of improving knowledge about neonatal and paediatric thrombotic events in Italy and providing a preliminary source of data for the future development of specific clinical trials and diagnostic-therapeutic protocols.

Materials And Methods: We analysed the subset of RITI data concerning paediatric systemic venous thromboembolic events that occurred between January 2007 and June 2013.

Results: Eighty-five deep venous thromboses and seven pulmonary emboli were registered in the RITI. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Oct 15;15(6):522-534. Epub 2017 May 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States of America.

Here we review recent data and the evolving understanding of the role of red blood cell-derived microparticles (RMPs) in normal physiology and in disease progression. Microparticles (MPs) are small membrane vesicles derived from various parent cell types. MPs are produced in response to a variety of stimuli through several cytoskeletal and membrane phospholipid changes. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Jun 8:1-3. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Division of Immunohaematology and Transfusion Medicine and Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, "Papa Giovanni XXIII" Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep 11;15(5):463-471. Epub 2017 May 11.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, TX, United States of America.

Background: During hypothermic storage, a substantial fraction of red blood cells (RBCs) transforms from flexible discocytes to rigid sphero-echinocytes and spherocytes. Infusion of these irreversibly-damaged cells into the recipient during transfusion serves no therapeutic purpose and may contribute to adverse outcomes in some patients. In this proof-of-concept study we describe the use of hypotonic washing for selective removal of the irreversibly-damaged cells from stored blood. Read More

Blood Transfus 2017 Sep 13;15(5):382-397. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Department of Donor Studies, Sanquin Research, Vrije Universiteit, the Netherlands.

Background: The ageing population and recent migration flows may negatively affect the blood supply in the long term, increasing the importance of targeted recruitment and retention strategies to address donors. This review sought to identify individual, network and contextual characteristics related to blood donor status and behaviour, to systematically discuss differences between study results, and to identify possible factors to target in recruitment and retention efforts.

Methods: The systematic review was conducted in accordance with a predefined PROSPERO protocol (CRD42016039591). Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 May 19;16(3):253-261. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Background: The Quality Unit of a research and teaching hospital in Milan assessed the increased clinical use of fresh-frozen plasma in patients treated during 2012 in order to evaluate the appropriateness of this use.

Materials And Methods: For each patient in the study, a pathology profile was generated by means of record linkage techniques involving data collected through different information systems. Patients' information was combined using the patient identifier key generating pathology profiles exported to an Excel file. Read More

Blood Transfus 2018 Feb 30;16(2):200-208. Epub 2017 May 30.

Cellular and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Experimental Medicine Centre, Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Investigation (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela.

Background: Anti-RhD antibodies (anti-D) are important in the prophylaxis of haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN) due to RhD incompatibility. Current preparations of anti-D are sourced from hyperimmune human plasma, so its production carries a risk of disease and is dependent on donor availability. Despite the efforts to develop a monoclonal preparation with similar prophylactic properties to the plasma-derived anti-D, no such antibody is yet available. Read More