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Evaluation of the protection of primates transfused with variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease–infected blood products filtered with prion removal devices: a 5‐year update
Author(s) -
LescoutraEtchegaray Nathalie,
Jaffré Nina,
Sumian Chryslain,
Durand Valérie,
Correia Evelyne,
Mikol Jacqueline,
LuccantoniFreire Sophie,
Culeux Audrey,
Deslys JeanPhilippe,
Comoy Emmanuel E.
Publication year - 2015
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/trf.12999
Subject(s) - leukoreduction , medicine , infectivity , blood transfusion , asymptomatic , virology , immunology , virus
BACKGROUND Analysis of archived appendix samples reveals that one in 2000 individuals in the United Kingdom may carry the infectious prion protein associated with variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD), raising questions about the risk of transfusion transmission from apparently healthy carriers. Blood leukoreduction shows limited efficiency against prions. Therefore, in absence of antemortem diagnostic tests, prion removal filters, including the P‐Capt filter were designed to improve blood transfusion safety. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We evaluated the performances of two filters, the P‐Capt and one prototype (PMC#005), with blood‐borne infectivity in two independent experiments. Blood was drawn twice from prion‐infected macaques. Corresponding RBCCs were prepared according to two different procedures: in Study A, the leukoreduction step was followed by the filtration through the P‐Capt. In Study B, the leukoreduction and prion removal were performed simultaneously through the PMC#005. For each study, two groups of three animals were transfused twice with samples before or after filtration. RESULTS Among the six macaques transfused with nonfiltered samples, five developed neurologic signs but only four exhibited peripheral detectable protease‐resistant prion protein (PrPres) accumulation. In Study A, the three animals transfused with P‐Capt–filtered samples remain asymptomatic and devoid of PrPres in lymph node biopsies 6 years after the transfusion. In Study B, one animal transfused with PMC#005‐filtered samples developed vCJD. CONCLUSION After 5 to 6 years of progress, this ongoing study provides encouraging results on the prion blood removal performances of the P‐Capt filter in macaques, an utmost relevant model for human prion diseases.