Trends in prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among Albanian blood donors, 1999-2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was among the first virus known to be transmitted by blood and blood productions. The objective of this study is to determine the trend of hepatitis B virus in blood donors.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>In this study 79274 blood donors were retrospectively evaluated for HBsAg. The donors were selected using personal questionnaire, physical examination and testing blood before donation. Blood banks records are used as source of information. The blood donors samples were analyzed for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by commercial available kits ELISA method, third generation (from Abbott laboratory, Germany). A sample was considered as HBsAg positive when found twice repeatedly reactive. Reactive samples were not confirmed with addition tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the evaluation data, we found out that from 79274 of the total healthy blood donors, 15983 were voluntary donors, 52876 were family replacement donors and 10424 commercial blood donors. The prevalence of HBsAg in blood donors was 7.9%. It was increased steadily from 5.9% in 1999 to 9.1% in 2006 and decreased in 7.9% in 2009. According to blood donors status the HBsAg prevalence was 10.5% in commercial blood donors, 8.1% in voluntary donors and 8.6% in family replacement donors. The prevalence of anti-HBc in blood donors was 59.1%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of HBsAg was lower in voluntary non remunerate blood donors than commercial donors and family replacement blood donors. In FDs the prevalence was higher than VDs but lower than CDs. So, it is important to encourage the voluntary blood donors to become regularly blood donors.</p

Alloimmunisation during pregnancy in Greece: need for nationwide HDFN prevention programme

Aim/ObjectivesTo access the incidence and specificity of maternal red blood cells alloimmunisation and its relevant clinical impact in Greece. BackgroundThe rate of alloimmunisation in pregnant women in Greece is unknown. Materials/MethodsWe performed a 4-year study in two tertiary hospitals in Greece. Demographics, transfusion and obstetric history were analysed. Maternal alloimmunisation was detected with indirect anti-globulin test. ResultsWe investigated 4368 pregnant women. Of which 3292 (75&lt;bold&gt;37&lt;/bold&gt;%) were Greek and 1076 (24&lt;bold&gt;63&lt;/bold&gt;%) were migrants. In 39 alloimmunised women, 41 alloantibodies were detected (0&lt;bold&gt;89&lt;/bold&gt;%). The incidence of alloimmunisation was 0&lt;bold&gt;66&lt;/bold&gt;% (22/3292) in Greeks and 1&lt;bold&gt;76&lt;/bold&gt;% (17/1076) in migrants (P=0&lt;bold&gt;01&lt;/bold&gt;). Anti-D was the most frequent alloantibody (0&lt;bold&gt;18&lt;/bold&gt;%). Anti-D was more frequent in migrants; 5&lt;bold&gt;76&lt;/bold&gt;% compared to 0&lt;bold&gt;56&lt;/bold&gt;% in Greek RhD negative women (P=0&lt;bold&gt;002&lt;/bold&gt;). Other antibody specificities in declining frequency rank were anti-K, anti-E, anti-Lea, anti-M, anti-c, anti-Ce, anti-Jka, anti-Jkb and anti-C. Primiparae vs para &gt;2 and past history of blood transfusion were significantly associated with alloimmunisation during pregnancy (P=0&lt;bold&gt;0088&lt;/bold&gt;, P&lt;0&lt;bold&gt;0001&lt;/bold&gt;, respectively). ConclusionsOur results depict differences in the delivery of health care between migrants and Greek women, as well as the heterogeneity in practices for the prevention of haemolytic disease of foetus and newborn in Greece and highlight the need for the implementation of nationwide guidelines

Cost-effectiveness of leucoreduction for prevention of febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions

Background. The cost-effectiveness of universal leucoreduction of blood components remains unclear. When using leucoreduced red blood cells, the decrease in the rate of febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR) is the only proven, meaningful clinical benefit, whose relationship to costs can be calculated relatively easily. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of leucoreduction in avoiding FNHTR. Materials and methods. Data were obtained from two large tertiary hospitals in Athens, Greece, over a 4-year period (2009-2012). The incidence of FNHTR in patients transfused with leucoreduced or non-leucodepleted red blood cells, the additional cost of leucoreduction and the cost to treat the FNHTR were estimated. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which is the ratio of the change in costs to the incremental benefits of leucoreduction, was calculated. Results. In total, 86,032 red blood cell units were transfused. Of these, 53,409 were leucodepleted and 32,623 were non-leucoreduced. Among patients transfused with leucodepleted units, 25 cases (0.047%) met the criteria for having a FNHTR, while in patients treated with non-leucoreduced components, 134 FNHTR were observed (0.411%). The ICER of leucoreduction was € 6,916 (i.e., the cost to prevent one case of FNHTR). Conclusions. Leucoreduction does not have a favourable cost-effectiveness ratio in relation to the occurrence of FNHTR. However, many factors, which could not be easily and accurately assessed, influence the long-term costs of transfusion. It is imperative to undertake a series of large, meticulously designed clinical studies across the entire spectrum of blood transfusion settings, to investigate most of the parameters involved. © SIMTI Servizi Srl

Data on how several physiological parameters of stored red blood cells are similar in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient and sufficient donors

This article contains data on the variation in several physiological parameters of red blood cells (RBCs) donated by eligible glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient donors during storage in standard blood bank conditions compared to control, G6PD sufficient (G6PD+) cells. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell fragility and membrane exovesiculation were measured in RBCs throughout the storage period, with or without stimulation by oxidants, supplementation of N-acetylcysteine and energy depletion, following incubation of stored cells for 24 h at 37 °C. Apart from cell characteristics, the total or uric acid-dependent antioxidant capacity of the supernatant in addition to extracellular potassium concentration was determined in RBC units. Finally, procoagulant activity and protein carbonylation levels were measured in the microparticles population. Further information can be found in “Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient subjects may be better “storers” than donors of red blood cells” [1]. Keywords: G6PD deficiency, Red blood cell storage lesion, Oxidative stress, Cell fragility, Microparticle