The Effects of Long-Term Plasmapheresis on the Iron Status of the Donors / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: We found that intensive and long-term plasmapheresis might be responsible for iron depletion of donors in our previous study. So we examined 88 multi-time and 44 first-time donors to investigate the effects of long-term plasmapheresis on the iron status of the body. METHODS: Eighty eight donors who had never donated whole blood or donated plasma only regularly over a period of 5 years were selected. They were divided into group 1, 2 and 3 by donation interval and group A, B and C by the number of plasmapheresis per year. Fifty eight of them had follow-up data after the donation. Whole blood was taken from the donors before plasmapheresis by the Fenwal Autopheresis-C system. Each sample was assayed for serum ferritin, iron, TIBC and transferrin saturation. RESLUTS: For serum ferritin, iron, TIBC and transferrin saturation, the mean values of multi-time donors were in the normal range but significantly lower than those of first-time donors. Twenty four (27.3%) multi-time donors had either less than 10 ng/mL of serum ferritin or less than 16% of transferrin saturation. Six donors had the lower values of both serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. Among 88 multi-time donors, there were significant differences between groups. Group 1 with the shortest donation interval had significantly lower ferritin value than the other groups. Group C with the highest donation frequency had significantly lower ferritin, TIBC and transferrin saturation values than the other groups. The results for the follow-up data of 58 donors were similar to those for the initial data. CONCLUSION: The donation intervals and the frequency of plasmapheresis influence body iron status of donors. So intensive and long-term plasmapheresis may result in iron depletion in donors. Consequently, a more sophisticated donor screening system to prevent iron depletion in intensive and long-term plasmapheresis donors should be established.

The Effects of Long-Term Plasmapheresis on Donors / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have demonstrated the well tolerance of intensive and long-term plasmapheresis in healthy donors, the effects on Korean donors have not been carefully investigated. Thirty donors were studied to investigate the effects of long-term plasmapheresis on Korean volunteer donors. METHODS: Thirty donors who had donated plasma regularly over a period of 3 years were selected. They were divided into group 1, 2 and 3 by the frequency of plasmapheresis per year and group A, B and C by the number of whole blood donations. Three of them had follow-up data at 7 days after. Whole blood was taken from the donors both before and after plasmapheresis by Fenwal Autopheresis-C system. Each sample was assayed for CBC, plasma total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, ferritin and plasma hemoglobin. RESLUTS: For total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA and IgM, all the donors showed values in the normal range even with significant decreases after plasmapheresis. And there were no differences between groups. For ferritin, the mean values before and after plasmapheresis were 19.2 +/- 15.1 ng/mL and 17.8 +/- 15.2 ng/mL, respectively. In group 3 with highest frequency of plasmapheresis, the mean ferritin value was significantly lower than that of other groups as 7.3 +/- 5.0 (p<0.00.) Furthermore, the value was lower than 10 ng/mL which is the indicative value of iron depleted status. CONCLUSION: Long-term plasmapheresis donors had no significant changes in total protein, albumin, IgG, IgA and IgM. But they had mean ferritin values lower than the indicative value of iron depleted status. This implies that intensive and long-term plasmapheresis, might result iron depletion in donors. Consequently, a monitoring system to take care of regular plasmapheresis donation should be established.