Subject(s)
3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases/antagonists & inhibitors , Adenosine/pharmacology , Liver/blood supply , Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control , Animals , Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3 , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Drug Synergism , Male , RatsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: GB virus C has been associated with some cases of fulminant hepatitis and post-transfusion hepatitis. We examined transfusion-related infection with this virus. METHODOLOGY: Of 150 patients undergoing liver resection, 108 received a homologous blood transfusion. Serum samples before and after surgery were examined for GB virus C RNA by a nested polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription. We also studied the post-operative course of patients infected with GB virus C by blood transfusion. RESULTS: Viral RNA was detected in sera taken after transfusion in 4 (4%) patients receiving homologous transfusions. Viral RNA was not detected after surgery in the 42 patients given autologous transfusions or not receiving homologous blood. Post-operative courses in the 4 infected patients were uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: As 4% of homologous transfusions resulted in GB virus C infection in our small surgical study, autologous transfusion is recommended when circumstances permit.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/surgery , Flaviviridae , Hepatectomy , Hepatitis, Viral, Human/transmission , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Blood Transfusion, Autologous , Humans , RNA, Viral/blood , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , RiskABSTRACT
12 anemic and 10 non-anemic patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) before arthroplasty. The patients received 400-800 units/kg of rHuEPO subcutaneously once a week. Autologous blood was collected after the hemoglobin concentration was increased by 5 percent or more. All but one of the patients responded to the treatment. They were given 1-3 units of autologous blood, and underwent the operation without homologous blood transfusion. The mean duration of the treatment was 1 month. In 1 patient with severe anemia, additional transfusion with 2 units of blood was necessary during the operation. In all patients, there was a tendency for the hemoglobin response ratio to rHuEPO to correlate negatively with the initial CRP levels. The treatment did not affect the patients' clinical rheumatologic condition and there were no adverse effects. These results demonstrated that the treatment with subcutaneous rHuEPO is both effective and non-toxic and can therefore eliminate the need for homologous blood transfusion in anemic patients undergoing arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis.