Multistate outbreak of hemolysis in hemodialysis patients--Nebraska and Maryland, 1998.

From May 13 through May 23, 1998, a total of 30 patients in three states developed hemolysis with or without chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, or abdominal pain while undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Two patients died. This report summarizes the preliminary findings of investigations in Nebraska and Maryland and implicated lot number 04015309 of Cobe Centrysystem 3 Blood Tubing sets (Gambro Healthcare, Lakewood, Colorado) as the cause of these reactions.