The Challenge of Transfusion of Patients Infected with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Dr. Carlos A. Gonzalez Silvana Gonzalez and Jeremias Gonzalez

The transfusional support of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients is a challenge both for the clinical physician and for the blood services, either because of the immunohematological problems or the microbiological/thrombotic risk associated. The immunohematological risk caused by positive crossmatch is resolved by autologous adsorption; if the patient was recently transfused, the adsorption will be homologous. The thrombotic risk (due to hypercoagulable state) is resolved by pretransfusion heparin administration and leukoreduction only in autoimmune hemolytic anemia cases; and the presumed microbiological risk is similar to HIV-negative patients.

PDF