Side-effects of cytapheresis with cell separators.

The rate of procedure-related side-effects was evaluated in 11,895 cytaphereses performed with a Haemonetics 30 (H-30) cell processor (2,486 procedures) or with a Haemonetics V-50 (H-50) cell processor (6,813 procedures) or with the Fenwal CS-3000 cell processor (2,596 procedures). The overall rate of side-effects was 7.41% (absolute number 881). There was a significant difference between female and male donors concerning the frequency of hypotension episodes and citrate toxicity related reactions. There were also distinct differences between the single cell separator types concerning the frequency and type of side effects. Hypotension episodes and citrate-related reactions were observed most frequently during cytapheresis with the H-30 (7.65 and 2.96% respectively). Venous access and technical problems appeared more often when the H-50 or the CS-3000 were used. Thus both the H-50 as well as the CS-3000 cell separators allow safe cytapheresis with a low number of side-effects.