Abstract
Background
Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) is often underreported.
There may also be lapses in TA-GVHD prevention practices due to lack of revision of
some of the existing clinical guidelines as well as limited audits on practices of
blood component irradiation. This study was undertaken to highlight these shortcomings,
and generate data for development of institutional guidelines.
Methods/materials
Study cohort was selected from patients requiring transfusion support during June
2019 to May 2020. Transfusion history of these patients were followed, both retrospectively
and prospectively till July 2021. Transfusion requisitions were categorized as IR (with request for irradiation) or
NIR (with no request for irradiation) and justified or unjustified according to published
international guidelines.
Results
Total 6963 requisitions for cellular blood components were received from 255 patients
included in the study cohort. Of these, 3690 (54.9 %) were IR requisitions, while
remaining 3029 (45.1 %) requisitions were NIR. Overall, 4242 (63.1 %) requisition
were justified for their irradiation status as per published guidelines and 1595 (23.8
%) were found to be Unjustified while justification could not be assessed for remaining
882 (13.1 %) of the requisitions. The highest proportion of Unjustified demands in
NIR requisitions was observed in patients with Severe Aplastic anemia (59.4 %).
Conclusion
Many units were unnecessarily irradiated (7.7 %) while irradiation was missed in 16
% of the requisitions included in analysis which may be attributed to lack of institutional
guidelines. We recommend that every centre should adopt a published well-researched
guideline including amendments based on review of practices at their center.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 01, 2023
Accepted:
January 31,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 16,
2023
Received:
May 28,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
