Harvesting of peripheral blood progenitor cells with different programmes of discontinuous flow systems

Comparison of Two Continuous-Flow Systems for the Collection of Peripheral Progenitor Cells

New advances in apheresis technology allow for the safe and efficient collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC). Two blood cell separators were compared with respect to separation results such as PPC yield and contamination of the products. A total of 11 patients (6 multiple myeloma, 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 medulloblastoma) underwent PPC collections with either the Amicus (Baxter) or AS. TEC (Fresenius) blood cell separator. PPC were mobilized by chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) application. Blood counts were determined before and after apheresis as well as in the PPC product. CD34 antigen-expressing cells were measured in the peripheral blood and in the PPC product by flow cytometry. Median baseline CD34 antigen-expressing cells were higher in patients undergoing PPC collection with the Amicus device. More PPC/kg of body weight were collected with this machine (5.3 x 10(6)/kg body weight versus 1.7 x 10(6) in the AS. TEC). The median volume was 129 ml (range 80-156 ml) for Amicus products and 111 ml (range 66-202 ml) for the AS. TEC, respectively. The median platelet contamination of the products from the Amicus blood cell separator was significantly lower than in products from the AS. TEC machine (0.17 x 10(11) versus 0.65 x 10(11), p < 0.001). The data show that a higher yield of PPC was collected with the Amicus machine. The platelet contamination of the products obtained from the two blood cells separators was significantly different.

Adverse events in peripheral progenitor cell collection: a 7-year experience

Collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC) by apheresis machines is generally regarded as a safe procedure. However, data about adverse events in PPC harvesting are scarce. In a monocentric retrospective study, the data of 540 PPC collections in a period of 7 years were reviewed. Adverse events were subdivided in collection-associated technical problems and patient/donor-related side effects. Patient/donor-related side effects occurred most often (19.8%); most of them were paresthesias due to citrate toxicity. Paresthesias were treated by oral (20.4%) or intravenous (1.1%) calcium supplementation. Problems with venous access were also seen frequently, resulting in blood flow alarms (11.3%) and blockades in the return line (4.3%). A total of 6.9% of these problems were catheter associated, requiring revision of the central venous line in 2.6%. Technical problems with the blood cell separators were observed in 11.7%. Ten PPC collections were discontinued due to adverse events. The data of this retrospective, monocentric analysis show that patient/donor-associated problems were observed in every fifth PPC harvest. Most of them were paresthesias, which could be easily treated by calcium supplementation. Problems with venous access and technical problems with the cell separators occurred in every tenth PPC collection.