[Report on notifications pursuant to Section 21 of the German Transfusion Act for the years 2008 and 2009]

Implications of a switch to a 100% apheresis platelet supply for patients and for blood donors: a risk benefit analysis

BACKGROUND

A 100% apheresis platelet supply is considered to increase transfusion safety by lowering donor exposures for transfusion recipients. We performed a risk benefit analysis to contrast the reduction of donor exposures and the risk of contaminated blood products in the nation-wide inventory with the donor risks associated with a switch to a 100% apheresis platelet supply in Germany.

METHODS

Donor exposures and the number of contaminated blood products resulting from HIV-like, HBV-like, HCV-like pathogens and two theoretical agents with infection rates of 10 and 1000 in 100 000, respectively, were calculated for a 100% apheresis platelet supply in Germany based on the 2006-2012 hemovigilance reports. These numbers were compared with the current mixed platelet supply of pooled and apheresis platelets. Moreover, additional donation time and apheresis donor complications resulting from a 100% apheresis platelet supply were estimated.

RESULTS

Per million total blood products (red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma), a 100% apheresis platelet supply would reduce donor exposures by 87 100 and the number of contaminated blood products ranging from 0·8 to 871·1. On the other hand, this requires additional 29 478 apheresis donations, 3·4 years additional donor time, and would be associated with 58 additional donor complications, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A 100% apheresis platelet supply would reduce donor exposures and the number of contaminated blood products in the inventory, but would increase apheresis complications in donors. Potential risks for patients must be carefully weighed against the risks for donors, dependent on the specific pathogen scenario.

Clinical indications for thrombopoietin and thrombopoietin-receptor agonists

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematologic disorder. Stimulation of thrombopoiesis may reduce the risk for thrombocytopenia-induced bleeding, prevent severe thrombocytopenia, and reduce the need for platelet transfusion. The key cytokine is thrombopoietin (TPO). It regulates proliferation and maturation of megakaryocytes as well as platelet production. TPO is synthesized in the liver. Development of TPO from the laboratory into a therapeutic tool has turned out to be an unexpected challenge. Clinical trials on first-generation thrombopoietic growth factors were stopped in 2001. At present, second-generation thrombopoiesis-stimulating agents have only been approved as orphan drugs for third-line therapy of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Larger groups in need are patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, other forms of hereditary and acquired bone marrow failure, hepatitis C infections, or liver cirrhosis.

Drug-induced blood consumption: the impact of adverse drug reactions on demand for blood components in German departments of internal medicine

Therapy for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) often results in the application of blood components. This study aims to assess the demand for blood components and the resulting economic burden (hospital perspective) in German hospitals induced by ADRs leading to admissions to departments of internal medicine. In this prospective study, ADRs leading to hospitalization were surveyed in four regional pharmacovigilance centres in Germany during the years 2000-2007. ADRs assessed as 'possible', 'likely' or 'very likely' were included. Market prices for blood components and hospitalization data were determined by desktop research. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed. A total of 6099 patients were admitted to internal medicine departments because of an outpatient ADR of whom 1165 patients (19.1%; mean age, 73.0 ± 13.0 years) required treatment with blood components owing to major bleeding events. Overall consumption was 4185 erythrocyte concentrates (EC), 426 fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and 48 thrombocyte (TC) units. On the basis of statistical hospital data, we estimated a nationwide demand of approximately 132,020 EC, 13,440 FFP and 1515 TC units, resulting in total costs of €12.66 million per year for all German hospitals. Some 19.2% of all ADR cases were assessed as preventable. Theoretically, a nationwide decreased demand for blood components and a savings potential of €2.43 million per year could be achieved by preventing ADRs in Germany. Blood components are used in one-fifth (mainly gastrointestinal bleeding) of all ADRs, leading to hospitalizations in internal medicine departments. Both blood demand and hospital procurement costs can be significantly lowered by preventing ADRs.