Open AccessExchange transfusion for babesiosis when, how, and how long?
Author(s) -
Pramod Guru,
John C. O’Horo,
Heidi D. Lehrke,
Jeffrey L. Winters,
John W. Wilson
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
indian journal of critical care medicine/indian journal of critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1998-359X
pISSN - 0972-5229
DOI - 10.4103/0972-5229.194017
Subject(s) - babesiosis , medicine , babesia , exchange transfusion , intensive care medicine , ixodes , disease , zoonotic disease , transfusion therapy , blood transfusion , immunology , virology , lyme disease
Babesiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by Ixodes ticks seen in the United States and parts of Europe. Because of the typically mild course of most infections, the disease is uncommonly seen in clinical practice. However, asplenic patients can develop a life-threatening infection. The first line of therapy for Babesia infections is antiparasitic medications; however, red blood cell (RBC) exchange transfusion has been described as an adjunct therapy. We describe a severe case of babesiosis in an asplenic patient and review the evidence, indications, and protocols for RBC exchange transfusion in this setting.