A study on the value of red cell exchange transfusion in transfusion dependent anaemias

Abstract

We compared red cell exchange transfusions (RC Ex) on the Aminco Celltrifuge (continuous flow cell separator) with conventional transfusions in 17 patients aged between 7 and 24 years who have transfusion dependent homozygous beta-thalassaemia and two other patients with chronic transfusion dependent anaemias aged 20 and 22. We aimed to return the youngest cohort of cells ('Neocytes') from both donor blood and the patient and to discard older cells ('gerocytes'). Using RC Ex, red cell transfusion requirement was reduced by 30%, reducing significantly the iron load, and the transfusion interval was increased by 43%. There is a great demand by the patients to continue this therapy as they have appreciated the immediate benefit of reduced hospitalization.