Apheresis with different procedures and devices are used for a variety of indications that may have different adverse events (AEs). The aim of this study was to clarify the extent and possible reasons of various side effects based on data from a multinational registry. The WAA-apheresis registry data focus on adverse events in a total of 50846 procedures in 7142 patients (42% women). AEs were graded as mild, moderate (need for medication), severe (interruption due to the AE) or death (due to AE). More AEs occurred during the first procedures versus subsequent (8.4 and 5.5%, respectively). AEs were mild in 2.4% (due to access 54%, device 7%, hypotension 15%, tingling 8%), moderate in 3% (tingling 58%, urticaria 15%, hypotension 10%, nausea 3%), and severe in 0.4% of procedures (syncope/hypotension 32%, urticaria 17%, chills/fever 8%, arrhythmia/asystole 4.5%, nausea/vomiting 4%). Hypotension was most common if albumin was used as the replacement fluid, and urticaria when plasma was used. Arrhythmia occurred to similar extents when using plasma or albumin as replacement. In 64% of procedures with bronchospasm, plasma was part of the replacement fluid used. Severe AEs are rare. Although most reactions are mild and moderate, several side effects may be critical for the patient. We present side effects in relation to the procedures and suggest that safety is increased by regular vital sign measurements, cardiac monitoring and by having emergency equipment nearby.

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Background Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, also called Upshaw‐Schulman syndrome (USS), is a rare disease caused by genetic mutations in the ADAMTS13 gene, which severely decrease the activity of ADAMTS13, a metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand factor multimers (VWF). Genotypically identical patients can show great phenotypic diversity. Objectives Comparison of selected laboratory parameters and ADAMTS13 pharmacokinetics among patients with USS was performed. Patients/methods Six patients with USS on prophylactic plasma therapy have been reviewed, retrospectively. Blood counts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ADAMTS13 activity at various time‐points before and after different treatment cycles were evaluated. Results ADAMTS13 recovery and pharmacokinetics were affected by treatment modality, and also reflected the patients' comorbidities and their current physiological and clinical condition. Conclusions Our present findings support a multifactorial contribution to treatment efficacy, and confirm the importance of adaptability and individualization of USS therapy. Therapeutic plasma exchange even in hereditary TTP is an option that can in some patients prolong intervals between plasma administration.

Key words: Transfusion-related acute lung injury -Granulocyte antibodiesBlood products Abstract: Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a severe life-threatening complication of blood transfusion, characterized by acute lung injury developing within 2-6 h of transfusion. However, TRALI is difficult to diagnose, and the initial report or suspicion of TRALI depends on close collaboration between clinical departments and transfusion centres. A total of 17 adverse post-transfusion reactions were reported to the Blood Centre of the University Hospital Ostrava as suspected TRALI between 2005 and 2010. We report two cases of serious TRALI with different pathogenetic mechanisms.

Therapeutic apheresis (TA) is prescribed to patients that suffer from a severe progressive disease that is not sufficiently treated by conventional medications. A way to gain more knowledge about this treatment is usually by the local analysis of data. However, the use of large quality assessment registries enables analyses of even rare findings. Here, we report some of the recent data from the World Apheresis Association (WAA) registry. Data from &#x3e;104,000 procedures were documented, and TA was performed on &#x3e;15,000 patients. The main indication for TA was the collection of autologous stem cells (45% of patients) as part of therapy for therapy. Collection of stem cells from donors for allogeneic transplantation was performed in 11% of patients. Patients with indications such as neurological diseases underwent plasma exchange (28%). Extracorporeal photochemotherapy, lipid apheresis, and antibody removal were other indications. Side effects recorded in the registry have decreased significantly over the years, with approximately only 10/10,000 procedures being interrupted for medical reasons. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Collection of data from TA procedures within a multinational and multicenter concept facilitates the improvement of treatment by enabling the analysis of and feedback on indications, procedures, effects, and side effects.