Survival of transfused red blood cells from a donor with alpha-thalassemia trait in a recipient with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Post-transfusion survival of donor red blood cells (RBCs) is important for effective chronic transfusion therapy in conditions including sickle cell disease (SCD). Biotin labeling RBCs allows direct in vivo measurement of multiple donor RBC units simultaneously post-transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In an observational trial of patients with SCD receiving monthly chronic transfusion therapy, aliquots of RBCs from one transfusion episode were biotin-labeled and infused along with the unlabeled RBC units. Serial blood samples were obtained to measure RBC survival. Donor units were tested for RBC indices, hemoglobin fractionation, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity. For microcytic donor RBCs (MCV < 70 fL), HBA1 and HBA2 genetic testing was performed on whole blood. RESULTS: We present one recipient, a pediatric patient with SCD and splenectomy who received two RBC units with aliquots from each unit labeled at distinct biotin densities (2 and 18 µg/mL biotin). One donor unit was identified to have microcytosis (MCV 68.5 fL after biotinylation); whole blood sample obtained at a subsequent donation showed 2-gene deletion alpha-thalassemia trait (ɑ-3.7kb/ɑ-3.7kb) and normal serum ferritin. G6PD activity was >60% of normal mean for both. The RBCs with alpha-thalassemia RBC had accelerated clearance and increased surface phosphatidylserine post-transfusion, as compared with the normocytic RBC (half life 65 vs. 86 days, respectively). DISCUSSION: Post-transfusion RBC survival may be lower for units from donors with alpha-thalassemia trait, although the impact of thalassemia trait donors on transfusion efficacy requires further study.

Post-transfusion biotin-labeled red blood cell survival studies in pediatric sickle cell disease with antibodies of uncertain significance.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) antibodies are common in multiply transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Unlike RBC alloantibodies, the potential of autoantibodies to cause post-transfusion hemolysis may be uncertain. Biotin-labeling provides a direct measurement of red cell survival (RCS) over time, thus can be used to assess the clinical significance of RBC antibodies. Antibodies to biotinylated RBC (B-RBC) occasionally are detected after exposure, which may impact B-RBC survival in subsequent RCS studies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Pediatric patients with SCD receiving monthly chronic transfusions underwent RCS studies, receiving aliquots of allogeneic RBC labeled at distinct densities of biotin (2-18 µg/mL). B-RBC survival was followed for 4 months post-transfusion, and B-RBC antibody screening for 6 months. Patients with warm autoantibodies (WAA) or B-RBC antibodies are reported here. RESULTS: RBC antibodies were detected during RCS in four patients: one with WAA, one with WAA followed by B-RBC-specific antibodies, and two with transient B-RBC antibodies within the first 5 weeks of exposure. B-RBC half-lives (T50) ranged 37.6-61.7 days (mean 47.8 days). There was no evidence of increased hemolysis or accelerated B-RBC clearance in the presence of WAA or B-RBC antibodies. DISCUSSION: Biotinylation of allogenic RBC can be used to assess the possible effects of RBC antibodies on transfusion survival in individual cases, particularly when it is uncertain if the detected antibodies may result in hemolysis. In the cases presented here, neither WAA nor B-RBC antibodies were associated with significant shortening of B-RBC survival in individuals with SCD.

Pneumococcal infections in children with sickle cell disease before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Over 25 years, the Georgia Emerging Infections Program/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Active Bacterial Core Surveillance network identified 104 IPD episodes among 3707 children with hemoglobin SS (HbSS) or HbSC aged <10 years, representing 6% of IPD in Black or African American children residing in Metropolitan Atlanta (reference population). Children with IPD and HbSS/SC were older than those with IPD in the reference population (P < .001). From 1994-1999 to 2010-2018, IPD declined by 87% in children with HbSS aged 0 to 4 years, and by 80% in those aged 5 to 9 years. However, IPD incidence rate ratios when comparing children with SCD with the reference population increased from 20.2 to 29.2 over these periods. Among children with HbSS and IPD, death declined from 14% to 3% after 2002, and meningitis declined from 16% to 8%. Penicillin resistance was more prevalent in children with SCD before 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) licensure. After 2010, all IPD serotypes were not included in the 13-valent PCV (PCV13). Within 3 years of vaccination, the effectiveness of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against non-PCV13 serotypes included in PPSV23 plus 15A/15C was 92% (95% confidence interval, 40.8- 99.0, P = .014; indirect-cohort effect adjusted for age and hydroxyurea). PPSV23 would cover 62% of non-PCV13 serotype IPD in children with SCD, whereas PCV15, PCV20, and PCV21/V116 (in development) could cover 16%, 51%, and 92%, respectively. Although less frequent, IPD remains a life-threatening risk in children with SCD. Effective vaccines with broader coverage could benefit these children.

Requests for Directed Blood Donations.

This Ethics Rounds presents a request for directed blood donation. Two parents feel helpless in the setting of their daughter's new leukemia diagnosis and want to directly help their child by providing their own blood for a transfusion. They express hesitancy about trusting the safety of a stranger's blood. Commentators assess this case in the setting of blood as a scarce community resource during a national blood shortage. Commentators review the child's best interest, future risks, and harm-benefit considerations. Commentators recognize the professional integrity, humility, and courage of the physician to admit his own lack of knowledge on the subject and to seek help rather than claim directed donation is not possible without further investigation into options. Shared ideals such as altruism, trust, equity, volunteerism, and solidarity are recognized as values relevant to sustainment of a community blood supply. Pediatric hematologists, a blood bank director, transfusion medicine specialists, and an ethicist conclude that directed donation is only justified by lower risks to the recipient in particular circumstances.

Procedural adverse events in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease undergoing chronic automated red cell exchange.

BACKGROUND: Chronic automated red cell exchange (RCE) is increasingly employed for sickle cell disease (SCD). There is a paucity of data on the incidence of RCE adverse events (AEs) and potential patient and procedural risk factors for AEs. METHODS: A retrospective review of pediatric SCD patients receiving chronic RCE over 3 years was performed to determine the frequency of AEs and identify procedural and patient AE risk factors. AE incidence, AE rate, incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and relative risks (RRs) were calculated based on various procedural and patient characteristics by univariable (UV) and multivariable (MV) analyses. RESULTS: In 38 patients receiving 760 procedures, there were 150 (19.7%) AEs, 36 (4.7%) were symptomatic AEs. AE rates were 20.2 [95% CI 17.2, 23.6] and 4.8 [95% CI 3.49, 6.70] per 100 person months for AEs and symptomatic AEs, respectively. AE incidences were: hypocalcemia (117; 15.4%), dizziness (22; 3.0%), hypotension (15; 2.0%), and nausea (14; 1.8%). Patients with baseline Hct ≥30% experienced more total AEs and symptomatic AEs. Patients with pre-procedure systolic BP <50th percentile, severe CNS vasculopathy, and non-SCA genotype (HbSC or Sß+ thalassemia) exhibited more total AEs. IHD depletion was not associated with an increased incidence of AEs or symptomatic AEs. CONCLUSION: SCD patients with Hct ≥30%, systolic BP <50th percentile, severe CNS vasculopathy, and possibly non-SCA genotype may be at higher risk for RCE-related AEs. The effect of IHD on AE risk is likely minimal. Individualized AE risk assessment should be performed in all SCD patients undergoing chronic automated RCE.

Thrombocytosis with acquired von Willebrand disease in an adolescent with sickle cell disease.

Thrombocytosis is common in sickle cell disease and may contribute to vaso-occlusion. Hydroxyurea treats extreme thrombocytosis. Acquired von Willebrand disease should be considered prior to aspirin therapy.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness and disease burden in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: 2012-2017.

BACKGROUND: Data are limited on the burden of influenza and seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: We used a prospectively collected clinical registry of SCD patients 6 months to 21 years of age to determine the influenza cases per 100 patient-years, vaccination rates, and a test-negative case-control study design to estimate influenza VE against medically attended laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. Influenza-positive cases were randomly matched to test-negative controls on age and influenza season in 1:1 ratio. We used adjusted logistic regression models to compare odds ratio (OR) of vaccination in cases to controls. We calculated VE as [100% × (1 - adjusted OR)] and computed 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around the estimate. RESULTS: There were 1037 children with SCD who were tested for influenza, 307 children (29.6%) had at least one influenza infection (338 infections, incidence rate 3.7 per 100 person-years; 95% CI, 3.4-4.1) and 56.2% of those tested received annual influenza vaccine. Overall VE pooled over five seasons was 22.3% (95% CI, -7.3% to 43.7%). Adjusted VE estimates ranged from 39.7% (95% CI, -70.1% to 78.6%) in 2015/2016 to -5.9% (95% CI, -88.4% to 40.4%) in the 2016/17 seasons. Influenza VE varied by age and was highest in children 1-5 years of age (66.6%; 95% CI, 30.3-84.0). Adjusted VE against acute chest syndrome during influenza infection was 39.4% (95% CI, -113.0 to 82.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza VE in patients with SCD varies by season and age. Multicenter prospective studies are needed to better establish and monitor influenza VE among children with SCD.

Patient and family experience with chronic transfusion therapy for sickle cell disease: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is a limited understanding of the patient and family experience of Chronic Transfusion Therapy (CTT) for prevention of complications of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). We sought to understand patient and family experience with CTT using qualitative methods. METHODS: Fifteen parents of children < 18 years old and nine children 12-18 years old with SCD who were receiving CTT for > 1 year were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format, and interviews were analyzed using open coding methods. RESULTS: Four themes created a narrative of the patient and family experience of CTT: 1) Burden of CTT, 2) Coping with CTT, 3) Perceived benefits and risks of CTT, and 4) Decision making regarding CTT. Participants reported substantial burden of CTT, including the impact of CTT on daily life and family, distress about venous access, burden of chelation therapy, and anxiety about CTT complications. Participants described how they coped with CTT. Participants reported increased energy, decreased pain, fewer hospitalizations, and stroke prevention with CTT, but also recognized complications of CTT, though awareness was limited in adolescents. Parents described sharing in the informed decision-making process with their healthcare provider about CTT, but adolescent patient participants reported that they were not involved in this process. CONCLUSIONS: CTT is associated with significant patient and family burden. Support from family, healthcare providers and school may help individuals cope with some of this burden. These findings provide the basis for future studies to identify strategies to mitigate the burden of CTT and improve the patient experience with this therapy. Future studies should also systematically assess patient knowledge about the key components of CTT and chelation using quantitative assessments.

Examining the Role of Complement in Predicting, Preventing, and Treating Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a critical component of optimal management for a broad range of conditions. Regardless of the indication, pretransfusion testing is required to appropriately match RBC donors and recipients to provide immunologically compatible blood. Although this approach is effective in the vast majority of situations, occasionally, patients will inadvertently receive an incompatible RBC transfusion, which can result in a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR). In addition, patients with life-threatening anemia and a complex alloantibody profile, which precludes rapid procurement of compatible RBCs, may also receive incompatible RBCs, placing them at risk for an HTR. Despite the rarity of these clinical situations, when incompatible blood transfusion results in an HTR, the consequences can be devastating. In this review, we will explore the challenges associated with actively preventing and treating acute HTRs following incompatible RBC transfusion. In doing so, we will focus primarily on the role of complement, not only as a key player in HTRs, but also as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of HTRs.

Challenges in preventing and treating hemolytic complications associated with red blood cell transfusion.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion support represents a critical component of sickle cell disease (SCD) management. However, as with any therapeutic intervention, RBC transfusion is not without risk. Repeat exposure to allogeneic RBCs can result in the development of RBC alloantibodies that can make it difficult to find compatible RBCs for future transfusions and can directly increase the risk of developing acute or delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, which can be further complicated by hyperhemolysis. Several prophylactic and treatment strategies have been employed in an effort to reduce or prevent hemolytic transfusion reactions. However, conflicting data exist regarding the efficacy of many of these approaches. We will explore the challenges associated with predicting, preventing and treating different types of hemolytic transfusion reactions in patients with SCD in addition to describing future strategies that may aid in the management of the complex transfusion requirements of SCD patients.

Hemoglobin A clearance in children with sickle cell anemia on chronic transfusion therapy.

BACKGROUND: Chronic transfusion therapy for sickle cell anemia reduces disease complications by diluting sickle-erythrocytes with hemoglobin A (HbA)-containing erythrocytes and suppressing erythropoiesis. Minor antigen mismatches may result in alloimmunization, but it is unknown if antigen mismatches or recipient characteristics influence HbA clearance posttransfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Children with sickle cell anemia on chronic transfusion therapy were followed prospectively for 12 months. All patients received units serologically matched for C/c, E/e, and K; patients with prior red blood cell (RBC) antibodies had additional matching for Fya , Jkb , and any previous alloantibodies. Patients' RBC antigen genotypes, determined by multiplexed molecular assays (PreciseType Human Erythrocyte Antigen, and RHCE and RHD BeadChip, Immucor) were compared to genotypes of transfused RBC units to assess for antigen mismatches. Decline in hbA (ΔHbA) from posttransfusion to the next transfusion was calculated for each transfusion episode. RESULTS: Sixty patients received 789 transfusions, 740 with ΔHbA estimations, and 630 with donor Human Erythrocyte Antigen genotyping. In univariate mixed-model analysis, ΔHbA was higher in patients with past RBC antibodies or splenomegaly and lower in patients with splenectomy. RBC antigen mismatches were not associated with ΔHbA. In multivariate linear mixed-effects modeling, ΔHbA was associated with RBC antibodies (2.70 vs. 2.45 g/dL/28 d, p = 0.0028), splenomegaly (2.87 vs. 2.28 g/dL/28 d, p = 0.019), and negatively associated with splenectomy (2.46 vs. 2.70 g/dL/28 d, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: HbA decline was increased among patients with sickle cell anemia with prior immunologic response to RBC antigens and decreased among those with prior splenectomy, demonstrating that recipient immunologic characteristics influenced the clearance of transfused RBCs.

Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficient red blood cell units are associated with decreased posttransfusion red blood cell survival in children with sickle cell disease.

Chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) for sickle cell disease (SCD) reduces disease morbidity by suppressing the amount of circulating hemoglobin S (HbS)-containing red blood cells (RBC). The effectiveness of CTT depends on the rate of RBC clearance. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient donor RBC may exhibit increased hemolysis, but it is unknown if transfusion of these units results in less effective transfusion outcomes in SCD. Children with SCD on CTT were followed prospectively for multiple transfusions. G6PD activity of transfused units was measured prior to expiration date. HbA clearance (ΔHbA) was calculated as the difference of estimated posttransfusion HbA to the pretransfusion HbA of the subsequent transfusion episode. Sixty-two patients received 388 transfusions. Of 755 RBC units, 687 (91%) had normal G6PD (>60% activity), 38 (5%) had moderately low G6PD (10-60% activity), and 30 (4%) had severely low G6PD (<10% activity). Of 358 evaluable transfusions, 54 (15%) included ≥1 G6PD deficient units, and 22 (6%) had ≥1 severely deficient units. The proportion of the transfusion episode consisting of G6PD deficient units was associated with increased ΔHbA for all G6PD deficient units (P = .05) and for severely G6PD deficient units (P = .0070). In multivariate mixed effects modeling, ΔHbA was positively associated with severely G6PD deficient units (P = .0074) and RBC alloimmunization (P = .03) and negatively associated with recipient splenectomy (P = .015). Higher ΔHbA was associated with higher HbS and reticulocyte counts at the subsequent transfusion episode. In conclusion, G6PD deficient RBC transfusions may have shorter in vivo survival and adversely affect the suppression of sickle erythropoiesis.

Red blood cell minor antigen mismatches during chronic transfusion therapy for sickle cell anemia.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization occurs at a high frequency in sickle cell anemia (SCA) despite serologic matching for Rh (C/c, E/e) and K antigens. RBC minor antigen genotyping allows for prediction of antigens and RH variants that may lead to alloimmunization. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBC antigen genotyping was performed on chronically transfused pediatric SCA patients, using PreciseType human erythrocyte antigen (HEA), RHCE, and RHD BeadChip arrays. All patients received C/c, E/e, and K serologically matched units (Category 1); patients with prior RBC antibodies were also matched for Fya , Jkb , and any antibodies (Category 2). The RBC genotypes of all leukoreduced (LR) units transfused over a 12-month period were determined by the prototype HEA-LR BeadChip assay. RESULTS: There were 2320 RBC units transfused to 90 patients in 1135 transfusion episodes. Thirty-five (38.9%) patients had homozygous or compound heterozygous RH variants. Seven new alloantibodies were detected, with alloantibody incidence of 0.706 in 100 units for Category 2 transfusions and 0.068 in 100 units for Category 1 (p = 0.02). Three patients on Category 2 transfusions formed new anti-Jsa and had a higher rate of exposure to Jsa than those who did not form anti-Jsa (20.4 vs. 8.33 exposures/100 units, p = 0.02). The most frequent mismatches were S (43.9%), Doa (43.9%), Fya (29.2%), M (28.4%), and Jkb (28.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Alloimmunization incidence was higher in those with prior RBC antibodies, suggesting that past immunologic responders are at higher risk for future alloimmunization and therefore may benefit from more extensive antigen matching beyond C/c, E/e, K, Fya , and Jkb .

Hemoglobin F Only Syndrome at Birth: A Case of Maternal HbA2' Complicating the Diagnosis of ß-Thalassemia.

An asymptomatic infant of Ghanaian descent had hemoglobin F only detected on newborn screening. ß-globin gene sequencing identified the intervening sequence (IVS)-II-849 (A → G) mutation with no normal ß-globin gene. ß-globin/δ-globin gene sequencing showed that both parents were heterozygous for the IVS-II-849 (A → G) mutation. The mother was heterozygous for the HbA2' δ-globin mutation (δ16 (A13) Gly → Arg), thus ß-thalassemia trait was unrecognized due to coinheritance of HbA2'. The infant developed anemia, splenomegaly, and began transfusion therapy by the age 6 of months. This is the first report of ß-thalassemia major with homozygous IVS-II-849 (A → G) mutations. This case highlights the importance of δ-globin gene mutations in prenatal testing.

Immunophenotypic parameters and RBC alloimmunization in children with sickle cell disease on chronic transfusion.

Alloimmunization against red blood cell (RBC) antigens is a cause of morbidity and mortality in transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). To investigate distinguishing characteristics of patients who develop RBC alloantibodies after transfusion (responders) versus those who do not (non-responders), a cross-sectional study of 90 children with SCD on chronic RBC transfusion therapy at a single institution was conducted in which 18 immune parameters (including T and B cell subsets) were tested via flow cytometry, and medical records were reviewed. RBC alloimmunization was present in 26/90 (29%) patients, with anti-E, K, and C among the most commonly detected alloantibodies despite prophylactic matching for these antigens at the study institution. In addition, RBC autoantibodies had been detected in 18/26 (69%) of alloimmunized versus 7/64 (11%) of non-alloimmunized patients (P < 0.0001). Alloimmunized patients were significantly older (median 13.0 years vs. 10.7 years, P = 0.010) and had more RBC unit exposures (median 148 U vs. 82 U, P = 0.020) than non-alloimmunized patients. Sex, age at initiation of chronic transfusion, splenectomy, stroke, and transfusion outside of the study institution were not significantly associated with RBC alloimmunization. Alloimmunized patients had a significantly increased percentage of CD4+ T memory cells compared to non-alloimmunized patients (57% vs. 49%, P = 0.0047), with no other significant differences in immune cell subsets or laboratory values detected between these groups. Additional research of RBC alloimmunization is needed to optimize transfusion therapy and to develop strategies to prevent alloimmunization.