Premium
Leukodepletion filters reduce Leishmania in blood products when used at collection or at the bedside
Author(s) -
Cardo Lisa J.,
Salata Jeanne,
Harman Ronald,
Mendez Juan,
Weina Peter J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2006.00821.x
Subject(s) - amastigote , leishmania , whole blood , leishmania major , leishmaniasis , filtration (mathematics) , biology , leishmania tropica , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cutaneous leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , statistics , mathematics , world wide web , computer science
BACKGROUND: Leishmania is an intracellular parasite of monocytes transmissible by transfusion. The feasibility of reducing Leishmania with leukodepletion filters was studied. At collection, infected blood contains the amastigote form of Leishmania within monocytes. Amastigotes cause the rupture of monocytes releasing free amastigotes that convert to promastigotes, which exist extracellularly at blood storage temperatures. Leukodepletion filters were tested at various time points in this process. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood products were infected with Leishmania organisms and then filtered with whole‐blood filters at collection, with bedside filters after storage, and to determine whether free promastigotes could be eliminated. RESULTS: Filtration at collection reduced Leishmania by 3 to 4 log or to the level of detection. Filtration of infected red cells after 2 weeks of storage showed a reduction of Leishmania by 4 log. Filtration resulted in a 6‐ to 8‐log reduction in promastigotes either in the presence or in the absence of white cells within the filter. CONCLUSION: Filtration at the time of collection and after storage of Leishmania‐ infected blood resulted in a substantial reduction of free and intracellular organisms. There is currently no donor screen for Leishmania. Until adequate testing is developed, the use of leukodepletion filters could add to the safety of the blood supply.