Preparation and transfusion of neocytes: Experience in children with thalassemia

Abstract

The use of neocytes has been developed as a system to reduce transfusion requirement and consequent iron overload. Neocyte concentrates prepared with the IBM 2991 Blood Processor have been transfused in 14 patients with Cooley's anemia (two groups of nine and five patients respectively). Analysis of the clinical advantages of neocytes has demonstrated that (1) the reduction of the blood requirement was about 10%; (2) the cost of a neocyte unit is considerable compared with the standard blood unit; and (3) the risk of alloimmunization and blood-dependent infectious disease is increased, in proportion to the large numbers of blood donors.