Erythrocyte apheresis as a method for autologous blood transfusion--a case study in a patient with Vel-antibodies.

Abstract

A 60-year old man was suffering from angina and a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) had to be done. In the preoperative screening procedure antibodies anti-Vel were identified. The patients blood group is 0, rr. The prevalence of the blood group 0, rr, Vel(-) is 1:60,000. Compatible blood groups were not found in the patients family. The only alternative method to give this patient his necessary units of blood was an autologous transfusion procedure, however, because of the patients clinical condition it was necessary to use an erythrocyte apheresis procedure without changing his blood volume. We performed erythrocyte apheresis, using the Fenwal CS-3000. 920 ml blood was collected, Ht 0.67 l/l, enough for three units packed cells compared with random donor blood. The erythrocyte apheresis procedure was performed without any problem. The PTCA was done without complications and transfusions. The units of blood are stored in liquid nitrogen in the central laboratory of blood transfusion, Amsterdam.