Leukoreduced Blood and Components

Leukoreduced blood and components are used to decrease the incidence of febrile transfusion reactions: to decrease the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to CMV negative immunocompromised or pregnant recipients, and to decrease sensitization to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) (important for transplant patients and platelet transfusion refractoriness).

Leukoreduced blood and components are available under the following different brand names: N/A.

Dosages of Leukoreduced Blood and Components:

• Please see specific component monograph (i.e., red blood cells or platelets) for dosing as there is no difference on dosing leukocyte reduced blood products from non-leukocyte reduced blood products

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Decreases Incidence of Febrile Transfusion Reactions

• Decreases risk of CMV transmission to CMV negative immunocompromised or pregnant recipients
• Decreases sensitization to HLA antigens (important for transplant patients and platelet transfusion refractoriness)

Side effects of leukoreduced blood and components include:

• Hemolytic transfusion reactions
• Febrile non-hemolytic reactions
• Allergic reactions ranging from hives to anaphylaxis
• Septic reactions
• Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
• Circulatory overload
• Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease
• Postransfusion purpura

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Leukoreduced blood and components have no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Leukoreduced blood and components have no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Leukoreduced blood and components have no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Leukoreduced blood and components have no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains leukoreduced blood and components. Do not take leukoreduced blood and components if you are allergic to leukoreduced blood and components or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Leukocyte reduction should not be performed for Granulocyte, Donor Lymphocyte Infusions, or Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell transfusions

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Leukoreduced Blood and Components?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Leukoreduced Blood and Components?”

Cautions

• Universal leukocyte reduction of blood components is common in many institutions but is not provided by all institutions. Therefore, leukocyte reduction should be included in the transfusion order for any patient that requires leukocyte reduced blood components
• Leukocyte reduction is NOT adequate for the prevention of TA-GVHD. Patients at risk of TA-GVHD should receive irradiated cellular components regardless of whether they are leukocyte reduced
• All transfusions must be given via blood administration sets containing 170- to 260-micron filters or 20- to 40-micron micro aggregate filters even if the unit was previously leukocyte reduced via filtration. Additional filtration is not needed when transfusion is given via a bedside leukocyte reduction filter. No other medications or fluids other than normal saline should be simultaneously given through the same line without prior consultation with the medical director of the blood bank
• Patient’s should be monitored for signs of a transfusion reaction including vitals pre, during, and post transfusion
• Bedside leukocyte reduction has been associated with rare severe hypotensive episodes. These episodes have not been associated with pre-storage leukocyte-reduced blood component transfusion. It is thought to be at least partially related to bradykinin generation and thus may be exacerbated by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Please see the specific component monograph for full safety information
• Consult with blood bank medical director or hematologist if you have questions regarding special transfusion requirements

Pregnancy and Lactation

• CMV-negative or CMV reduced risk (leukocyte reduced) red blood cells should be used in pregnant women who are CMV-negative or whose CMV status is unknown. Consult with your blood bank medical director regarding your institution's policy for reducing CMV transmission in this population.
• Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.