ABSTRACT
In 1999, the UK implemented universal leucoreduction as a precaution against transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by transfusion of domestic blood or red blood cells. We aimed to assess how effectively leucoreduction reduced infectivity of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in blood. 450 mL of whole blood collected and pooled from scrapie-infected hamsters was leucoreduced with a commercial filter. Blood cell concentrations were quantified, and infectivity titres measured. Blood cell recovery and white blood cell removal complied with American Association of Blood Banks standards. Leucofiltration removed 42% (SD 12) of the total TSE infectivity in endogenously infected blood. Leucoreduction is necessary for the removal of white-cell-associated TSE infectivity from blood; however, it is not, by itself, sufficient to remove all blood-borne TSE infectivity.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion , Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/prevention & control , Leukapheresis , Animals , Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/transmission , Cricetinae , Transfusion ReactionABSTRACT
C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency is a rare disorder that lacks consensus for diagnosis therapy and management. Recognizing that Canada is behind the European approach to this disorder, we have formed the Canadian Hereditary Angioedema Society (CHAES)/Société d'angioédème héréditaire du Canada (SAHC) to foster knowledge of this disorder in Canada and to advance care of patients with this disorder in Canada. We here present a review of treatment of this disorder in Canada including prevention of angioedema events and use of replacement therapy and present an algorithm for diagnosis therapy and management of C1-INH deficiency in Canada for discussion at our International Conference on Hereditary Angioedema to be held in Toronto, Canada, October 24th to 26th, 2003.
