leukocyte-depleted erythrocyte transfusion

Leukocyte-depleted erythrocyte transfusion is a biologic blood product intervention where red blood cell (erythrocyte) units are processed via prestorage filtration to remove white blood cells (leukocytes) prior to administration. This process, known as leukodepletion, is designed to mitigate the adverse immunomodulatory and inflammatory responses often triggered by allogeneic leukocytes in standard blood transfusions. By removing these cells, the risk of febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, HLA alloimmunization, and the transmission of leukotropic viruses (such as Cytomegalovirus) is significantly reduced. In clinical trials, particularly those involving cardiac surgery patients, leukocyte-depleted transfusions have been studied for their potential to lower postoperative infection rates and reduce the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) compared to standard buffy coat-depleted red blood cell units.

Other names

leukocyte-depleted red blood cellsleukoreduced red blood cellsleukodepleted erythrocytesprestorage leukocyte-depleted red blood cellsLD-RBC