Open AccessTherapeutic leukapheresis in a tertiary care hospital: A case series
Author(s) -
Raj Nath Makroo,
Brinda Kakkar,
Mohit Chowdhry,
Soma Agrawal,
Shishir Seth,
Uday Kumar Thakur
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
asian journal of transfusion science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.262
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1998-3565
pISSN - 0973-6247
DOI - 10.4103/0973-6247.200772
Subject(s) - leukostasis , leukapheresis , medicine , intensive care medicine , leukoreduction , chemotherapy , leukemia , surgery , blood transfusion , stem cell , biology , cd34 , genetics
Patients presenting with hyperleukocytosis secondary to acute leukemia, with total leukocyte count or blast count more than 100,000/μL are often considered for leukapheresis, especially if clinical signs of leukostasis are present. Leukostasis is often associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with leukemic processes. The main goal of management of hyperleukocytosis and/or leukostasis is to reduce the blast count before initiation of chemotherapy. Leukapheresis is often used prophylactically to prevent leukostasis or to provide symptomatic relief. We, as transfusion medicine specialists, present our experience of doing therapeutic leukapheresis in patients presenting with hyperleukocytosis with or without presenting features of leukostasis.