washed leukoreduced irradiated blood cell transfusions

Washed leukoreduced irradiated blood cell transfusions represent a specialized blood product preparation used to minimize transfusion-related complications in high-risk patients, such as children undergoing congenital heart surgery. The preparation involves three distinct processing steps: **washing** with saline to remove plasma proteins, potassium, and inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6); **leukoreduction** (typically via filtration) to remove donor white blood cells, thereby reducing the risk of febrile non-hemolytic reactions and HLA alloimmunization; and **irradiation** (using gamma or X-rays) to inactivate donor T-lymphocytes and prevent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD). This specific combination of processing is being investigated by the University of Rochester to determine its impact on post-operative inflammation and clinical outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Other names

washed leukoreduced irradiated red blood cellswashed leukoreduced irradiated blood cells