Table of Contents
- 1 Why do some patients need irradiated blood?
- 2 When do you transfuse irradiated blood?
- 3 Why do cancer patients get irradiated blood?
- 4 What is meant by irradiated blood?
- 5 What is irradiated blood used for?
- 6 What does it mean when blood is irradiated?
- 7 Do leukemia patients need irradiated blood?
- 8 What happens when a patient who requires irradiated blood products receives non irradiated products?
Why do some patients need irradiated blood?
Why is blood irradiated? Irradiated blood is used to prevent a very rare but serious complication of blood transfusions called ‘transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease’ (TA-GvHD). This is when donor white blood cells attack your own tissues.
When do you transfuse irradiated blood?
Blood products should be irradiated at least with 30 Gy just before transfusion. With this regime in practice for 4 years, no complications and side effects were seen.
Who needs irradiated Bloods?
Immunocompromised patients such as
- Infants (particularly premature) up to 4, 6, or 12 months depending on institutional policy.
- Intrauterine transfusion* and/or neonatal exchange transfusion recipients.
- Congenital immunodeficiency disorders of cellular immunity (i.e., SCID, DiGeorge)*
Why do cancer patients get irradiated blood?
Blood Irradiation To prevent this, some centers irradiate (treat with radiation) blood components for patients receiving intensive chemotherapy, undergoing stem cell transplant or who are considered to have impaired immune system. Irradiation prevents white cells from attacking.
What is meant by irradiated blood?
Irradiated blood is blood that has been treated with radiation (by x-rays or other forms of radioactivity) to prevent Transfusion- Associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GvHD).
Do all patients need irradiated blood?
Is all blood routinely irradiated? Red cell and platelet transfusions are not routinely irradiated and need to be irradiated ‘on demand’ for patients at risk of TA-GvHD. It is important that you remind your medical team of your need for irradiated blood as they have to order it specially.
What is irradiated blood used for?
Irradiated blood and components are used for the prevention of transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) in cellular blood products.
What does it mean when blood is irradiated?
Do AML patients need irradiated blood products?
Blood products must be irradiated to prevent transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (GVHD).
Do leukemia patients need irradiated blood?
Acute leukemia There is no definitive evidence to support the need for irradiated blood transfusion to patients with a diagnosis of acute leukemia (any type) in adult and pediatric patients, in the absence of identified TA-GVHD risk factors.
What happens when a patient who requires irradiated blood products receives non irradiated products?
Irradiated or non-irradiated transfusions have many risks involved including elevated potassium levels and graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD). Irradiated blood is able to destroy the leukocytes responsible for TA-GVHD, but it adversely causes elevated extracellular potassium due to hemolysis of the RBC’s.
What happens if you receive non irradiated blood?
Blood transfusions are required for patients undergoing a craniosynostosis repair due to the significant amount of blood loss. Irradiated or non-irradiated transfusions have many risks involved including elevated potassium levels and graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD).