A retrospective study for association between post-transfusion hemoglobin S level and pre-transfusion hemoglobin S level at the next scheduled transfusion.

BACKGROUND: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently undergo prophylactic red blood cell (RBC) exchange transfusion and simple transfusion (RCE/T) to prevent complications of disease, such as stroke. These treatment procedures are performed with a target hemoglobin S (HbS) of ≤30%, or a goal of maintaining an HbS level of <30% immediately prior to the next transfusion. However, there is a lack of evidence-based instructions for how to perform RCE/T in a way that will result in an HbS value <30% between treatments. PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE: To determine whether targets for post-treatment HbS (post-HbS) or post-treatment HCT (post-HCT) can help to maintain an HbS <30% or <40% between treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with SCD treated with RCE/T at Montefiore Medical Center from June 2014 to June 2016. The analysis included patients of all ages, and data including 3 documented parameters for each RCE/T event: post-HbS, post-HCT, and follow-up HbS (F/u-HbS), which is the pre-treatment HbS prior to the next RCE/T. Generalized linear mixed model was used for estimating the association between post-HbS or post-HCT levels and F/u-HbS <30%. RESULTS: Based on our results, targeting post-HbS ≤10% was associated with higher odds of having events of F/u-HbS <30% between monthly treatments. Targeting post-HbS ≤15% was associated with higher odds of events of F/u-HbS < 40%. As compared to post-HCT ≤30%, a post-HCT >30%-36% did not contribute to more F/u-HbS <30% or HbS <40% events. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with SCD undergoing regular RCE/T for stroke prevention, a post-HbS ≤10% can be used as a goal to help maintain an HbS <30% for 1 month, and a post-HbS ≤15% allowed patients to maintain HbS <40%.

Bone Marrow Collection: Comparison of Unassisted vs Assisted Bedside Collections by a Laboratory Technologist.

OBJECTIVES: Bone marrow collections are often difficult, and creating quality smears and touch preparations at the bedside can prove challenging. The objective of this study is to compare the quality of bone marrow specimens between unassisted and assisted bone marrow collections by a bone marrow technologist. METHODS: Data for this study were collected from 422 hematopathology reports over 14 months. We recorded the bone marrow quality of the different parts (aspirate smears, touch imprints, core biopsy, and clot/particle sections) as adequate, suboptimal, or inadequate. Student t test statistical analysis was performed between the corresponding parts in the two groups. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that the quality of assisted bone marrow specimens is significantly better compared with unassisted specimens, particularly for the aspirate smears (P < .0001) and touch imprints (P < .0001). Notably, the quality of aspirate smears was improved, which is important for cytologic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that assistance by a bone marrow technologist resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of bone marrow collection.

Impact of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate on Blood Use, Cost, and Outcomes in Heart Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients undergoing heart transplantation have increased bleeding risk. We compared conventional warfarin reversal with fresh frozen plasma vs 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and the effect on transfusion requirements, blood bank costs, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review identified 60 consecutive LVAD recipients undergoing heart transplantation divided into two groups: 30 (no PCC) received fresh frozen plasma and 30 (PCC) received PCC. Patient characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative transfusion requirements, short-term clinical outcomes, and blood bank costs were compared. PCC association with transfusion requirements was assessed by multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: Patients who received PCC were younger (50 ± 11 vs 57 ± 13 years, p = 0.02), fewer had ischemic cardiomyopathy (23% vs 60%, p = 0.01), had more than one prior sternotomy (7% vs 30%, p = 0.04), and had higher preoperative hemoglobin (11.8 ± 1.8 vs 10.4 ± 1.8 g/dL, p = 0.01). The PCC group had a significantly shorter bypass time (185 vs 217 minutes, p = 0.01), received less fresh frozen plasma (2 vs 5 units, p = 0.03), cryoprecipitate (0 vs 2 units, p = 0.05), and total blood products (9 vs 13.5 units, p = 0.03) intraoperatively, and was less likely to require delayed sternal closure (3% vs 23%, p = 0.05). On multivariate linear regression, PCC was significantly associated with decreased intraoperative transfusion (ß = -6.09, p = 0.02). There was no difference in thromboembolic events or in-hospital death. Total blood bank costs were $4,949 for PCC and $3,677 for no PCC (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although more costly, PCC reduced transfusion requirements and delayed sternal closure in heart transplant recipients bridged with LVAD, justifying its use over traditional warfarin reversal.

Did I Miss It? Discovering Hidden Coexisting Hematological Neoplasms: A Single Institutional Review of 100 Collision Tumors.

A collision tumor is defined as two histologically distinct tumor types identified at the same anatomic site. Hematolymphoid proliferative disorders (HLPDs), which coincide with non-hematological neoplasms, can mimic an immune response and can easily be overlooked as an immune reaction to a solid organ neoplasm, especially when low grade. In order to avoid a delay in the diagnosis of a HLPD during the workup for a non-hematological neoplasm, we identified a cohort of 100 cases with a HLPD diagnosis during the initial workup and treatment of a non-hematological neoplasm, or vice versa. Among the 100 collision tumors, the most common non-hematological neoplasms associated with a HLPD were from the colon (17%), breast (15%), and prostate (12%). The most commonly identified HLPDs were chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL; 18%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (17%), follicular lymphoma (14%), marginal zone lymphoma (10%), acute myeloid leukemia (8%), and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (5%). Interestingly, in this cohort 5% of the low-grade HLPDs, all of them CLL/SLL, were missed at initial sign-out and subsequently required an addendum report. The other 95% of cases were reviewed or signed out by a hematopathologist before the report was finalized for the non-hematological neoplasm. In summary, high-grade hematological malignancies are less likely to be missed; however, low-grade coexisting HLPDs can be overlooked as a reactive immune response to a solid organ neoplasm. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind the existence of collision low-grade HLPDs before assuming the lymphoid infiltrates as an immunological response.