Use of deglycerolized red blood cells to prevent posttransfusion infection with cytomegalovirus in neonates.

In an effort to reduce the rate of posttransfusion infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), 157 CMV-seronegative neonates were given deglycerolized red blood cells as their only source of red blood cells. Other blood products given to these patients received no special preparation. The 106 (67.5%) infants available for adequate evaluation received an average of 5.7 units (range, one to 39 units). Three hundred thirteen (51.4%) of the 609 transfused units were CMV-seropositive. When evaluated three months after their last transfusion, none of the 106 infants had virological or serological evidence of CMV infection. These results suggest that regardless of the serological status of the donor, deglycerolized red blood cells can reduce or possibly eliminate posttransfusion CMV infection and can serve as a safe alternative to CMV-seronegative blood. Freezing, depletion, and physical disruption of leukocytes may be responsible for the decreased infectivity of the deglycerolized product.