Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction occurrence and potential risk factors among the U.S. elderly transfused in the inpatient setting, as recorded in Medicare databases during 2011-2012.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) is an acute transfusion complication resulting in fever, chills and/or rigours. Study's objective was to assess FNHTR occurrence and potential risk factors among inpatient U.S. elderly Medicare beneficiaries, ages 65 and older, during 2011-2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective claims-based study utilized large Medicare administrative databases. FNHTR was ascertained via ICD-9-CM diagnosis code, and transfusions were identified by recorded procedure and revenue centre codes. The study ascertained FNHTR rates among the inpatient elderly overall and by age, gender, race, blood components and units transfused. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess potential risk factors. RESULTS: Among 4 336 338 inpatient transfusion stays for elderly during 2011-2012, 2517 had FNHTR diagnosis recorded, an overall rate of 58.0 per 100,000 stays. FNHTR rates (per 100,000 stays) varied by age, gender, number of units and blood components transfused. FNHTR rates were substantially higher for RBCs- and platelets-containing transfusions as compared to plasma only. Significantly higher odds of FNHTR were identified with greater number of units transfused (P < 0.01), for females vs. males (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.27), and with 1-year histories of transfusion (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.10-1.42), lymphoma (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.46), leukaemia (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.56-2.31) and other diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows increased FNHTR occurrence among elderly with greater number of units and with RBCs- and platelets-containing transfusions, suggesting need to evaluate effectiveness of prestorage leucoreduction in elderly. The study also suggests importance of prior recipient alloimmunization and underlying health conditions in the development of FNHTR.

Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) and potential risk factors among the inpatient US elderly as recorded in Medicare administrative databases during 2011.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) is a serious transfusion complication resulting in respiratory distress. The study's objective was to assess TACO occurrence and potential risk factors among elderly Medicare beneficiaries (ages 65 and older) in the inpatient setting during 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective claims-based study utilized Medicare administrative databases in coordination with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Transfusions were identified by recorded procedure and revenue centre codes, while TACO was ascertained via ICD-9-CM diagnosis code. We evaluated TACO diagnosis code rates overall and by age, gender, race, number of units and blood components transfused. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 2,147,038 inpatient transfusion stays for elderly in 2011, 1340 had TACO diagnosis code, overall rate of 62·4 per 100,000 stays. TACO rates increased significantly with age and units transfused (P < 0·0001). After adjustment for confounding, significantly higher odds of TACO were found for women vs. men (OR = 1·40, 95% CI 1·26-1·60), White people vs. non-White people (OR = 1·38, 95% CI 1·20-1·62) and persons with congestive heart failure (OR = 1·61, 95% CI 1·44-1·88), chronic pulmonary disease (OR = 1·19, 95% CI 1·08-1·32) and different anaemias. CONCLUSION: Our study identified largest number of potential TACO cases to date and showed a substantial increase in TACO occurrence with age and number of units transfused. The study suggested increased TACO risk in elderly with congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease and anaemias. Overall, study shows importance of large administrative databases as an additional epidemiological tool.

Collagenase in the lower respiratory tract of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

To test the hypothesis that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is mediated through collagenase present in the lower respiratory tract, we used the fiberoptic bronchoscope to obtain fluid from the lower respiratory tract of 24 patients with IPF, 18 controls and nine patients with sarcoidosis. The fluid was analyzed for a variety of enzymes, including collagenase. Fifteen of 21 patients with IPF showed collagenase activity, whereas normal controls and patients with sarcoidosis showed none (P greater than 0.001, for all comparisons). In two patients with IPF who were re-evaluated after eight to 24 months, the collagenase activity was persistent. Fluid from patients with IPF also contained elevated levels of a non-specific neutral protease (P greater than 0.01 compared with controls), but there was no elastase activity in fluid from patients with IPF or from controls. The collagenase found in lavage fluid in IPF cleaved lung collagen into collagenase-specific TCA and TCB fragments. We conclude that in IPF the collagen of the lung is subjected to sustained lysis, followed by disordered resynthesis, and that the presence of active collagenase in the lower respiratory tract is a specific feature of the alveolitis associated with this disease.

Bronchoalveolar lavage in interstitial lung disease.

Cellular and immunoglobulin components of bronchoalveolar fluid recovered by bronchoscopic lavage were evaluated in 32 control patients, 10 normal volunteers, and 60 patients with the following interstitial lung diseases: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis associated with collagen-vascular disease, eosinophilic granuloma, sarcoidosis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The percentage of lymphocytes distinguished two general disease categories: those with increased lymphocytes (sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis); and those with normal lymphocytes (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis associated with collagen-vascular disease, and eosinophilic granuloma). Patients in all five disease categories had elevated IgG levels and percentages of neutrophils compared with control patients, with the highest proportion of neutrophils found in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Immunoglobulin levels also helped distinguish among patient groups, in that patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis had lavage IgG/albumin ratios greater than 1, whereas patients with sarcoidosis had ratios less than 1; and with infrequent exceptions, the finding of IgM in lavage fluid was limited to patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Retrograde aortic perfusion by partial cardiopulmonary bypass: effect of mixing on measured arterial oxygen tension.

Partial venoarterial bypass with return of oxygenated blood to the femoral artery can produce mixing in the aorta of the blood from the oxygenator and left ventricular sources at flow rates of less than 50% of the total body flow. This was observed in six anesthetized sheep with normal lungs maintained on controlled ventilation on partial cardiopulmonary (venoarterial) bypass. The evidence of mixing increases with the extracorporeal flow rate, reaching the aortic arch in a majority of cases at the higher rates. Management of bypass and the interpretation of its effects depend on definite knowledge of the presence or absence of mixing. Partial bypass will raise the arterial oxygen tension (Pao-2) of the blood continuing to flow through the lungs. This effect is independent of mixing (Pao-2) and may be related either to the addition of oxygen to the blood or to an enhanced pulmonary ventilation-perfusion relationship.