RSS Feeds
Reducing the Risk for Transfusion-transmitted Cytomegalovirus Infection
- Merlin H. Sayers, MD, PhD;
- Kenneth C. Anderson, MD;
- Lawrence T. Goodnough, MD;
- Sanford R. Kurtz, MD;
- Thomas A. Lane, MD;
- Patricia Pisciotto, MD; and
- Leslie E. Silberstein, MD*
Abstract
▪ Objective: To define the groups of patients at risk for transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection and to define the methods to reduce this risk.
▪ Data Sources: English-language publications on transfusion medicine.
▪ Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies were selected that described cytomegalovirus infection in transfusion-dependent patients. Special attention was paid to reports that included observations about the prevalence and clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection and recommendations for the prevention of infection.
▪ Data Synthesis: Some patients with impaired immune responses who have never been exposed to cytomegalovirus are at risk for transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection. This infection, which is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, can be avoided by additional screening of blood donors or by special processing of components for transfusion.
▪ Conclusions: Transfusion products that are unlikely to transmit cytomegalovirus infection can be prepared by filtration to remove leukocytes or can be obtained by selecting donors who are seronegative for antibodies to cytomegalovirus. These products are indicated for certain groups of immunosuppressed patients, including pregnant women who are cytomegalovirus seronegative, premature infants of low birth weight who are born to cytomegalovirus-seronegative mothers, cytomegalovirus-seronegative recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants from cytomegalovirus-seronegative donors, and cytomegalovirus-seronegative patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Article and Author Information
-
From Puget Sound Blood Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; University Hospital of Cleveland and Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio; Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts; University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut; and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Blood Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For current author addresses, see end of text.
-
↵* All authors are members of the American Association of Blood Banks Transfusion Practices Committee.
-
The views expressed in this paper represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the American Association of Blood Banks.
-
Requests for Reprints: Merlin H. Sayers, MD, PhD, Puget Sound Blood Center, 921 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
-
Current Author Addresses: Dr. Sayers: Puget Sound Blood Center, 921 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
Dr. Anderson: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115.
Dr. Goodnough: Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Cleveland, 2074 Abington Road, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Dr. Kurtz: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, 41 Mall Road, Box 541, Burlington, MA 01805.
Dr. Lane: Pathology Department, H-720-T, University of California, San Diego, Medical Center, 225 Dickinson Street, San Diego, CA 92103.
Dr. Pisciotto: University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, C2058, Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032.
Dr. Silberstein: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Blood Bank, 3400 Spruce Street, 6-60 Founders Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
- © 1992 American College of Physicians
Related Clinical Content
