The transfusion needs of an autologous bone marrow transplant patient with IgA deficiency.

BACKGROUND

Transfusion management of the patient who is undergoing a marrow or peripheral blood stem and progenitor cell transplantation is often challenging. The situation is further complicated when the patient is IgA deficient with circulating anti-IgA.

CASE REPORT

This report describes an approach to transfusion therapy primarily using red cells washed by automated techniques and cryopreserved autologous plateletpheresis components. Additional platelet support was provided with manually washed allogeneic plateletpheresis components. Autologous fresh-frozen plasma was collected concurrently, and IgA-deficient allogeneic units were ordered and kept in storage, but they were not needed during transplantation. The patient experienced no transfusion sequelae as a result of the IgA deficiency.

CONCLUSION

With this approach, the transfusion needs of an IgA-deficient patient were adequately met during bone marrow transplantation.