Profile of adverse events in plateletpheresis and plasmapheresis donors in a tertiary care hospital of North India

Background: Apheresis procedures are usually well tolerated. Adverse events (AEs) associated with the use of cell separators can be due to delivery of the anticoagulant, vasovagal, allergy, venous access or machines malfunction. Aim was to study the profile of adverse events of plateletpheresis and plasmapheresis donors. Methods: Plateletpheresis and plasmapheresis procedures enrolled for donors during 2017-2018 were done after taking informed and written consent by using Trima Accel and MCS+cell separator. Donor related AEs were categorised according to severity, site and etiology. Non-donor related (NDR) AEs were kit, technique, or equipment related. Results: 2859 procedures were done, 2836 (99.19%) plateletpheresis and 23 (0.8%) plasmapheresis. All 145 (5.07%) AEs were seen in plateletpheresis. Majority of AEs, 130 (4.54%) were DR. 15 (0.52%) were NDR. Commonest DR AEs was citrate related (CR) 76 (2.6%), followed by vasovagal reaction (VVR) in 31 (1.08%) and vascular injury in 23 (0.8%). Majority of the AEs were mild in 124 (4.33%), only 6 (0.20%) were moderate. 107 (3.74%) AEs were (VI) systemic, while 23 (0.80%) were local. In local AEs, hematomas were more common. First time donors had more AEs, 62/1234 (5.02%) as compared to the repeat donors 68/1625 (4.18%). CR AEs were more in repeat donors, 46 (2.8%) as compared to first time donors, 30 (2.43%). VVRs and VIs were more in first time as compared to the repeat donors. NDR AEs were 15 (0.52%). Conclusions: Donor vigilance, trained technical personnel and specialists’ supervision are vital for donor safety hence affecting apheresis donor pool