Pediatric patients requiring transfusion constitute one of the most challenging areas of transfusion practice. Due to the limitations posed by their particular physiological conditions they routinely require specialized component support and more personalised transfusion care than what is routinely utilized in the care of adult patients. Pediatric patients, unlike many adult patients requiring transfusion support, also generally have significant lifespans post-transfusion. This combined with the possibility of long term consequences to adverse events related to transfusion such as infection or change in immunological status drives the need to continue to use improved blood components in the transfusion support of pediatric patients. While considerable progress has been made on methods to improve the safety and efficacy of blood components, the use of these products in pediatric patients continues to be a subject of debate and additional considerations. These additional considerations arise due to the changes in blood product quality and function that is observed following treatment with pathogen reduction methods. Additional considerations regarding toxicological and immunological aspects related to these products are heightened in the case of pediatric patients. This manuscript provides an overview of current practice regarding the use of pathogen reduced products in pediatric patients with discussion of issues for consideration in their implementation in routine, including cost/benefit and risk/benefit aspects associated with their use.
Transfus Apher Sci. 2018 Jun
Special considerations for the use of pathogen reduced blood components in pediatric patients: An overview
Goodrich RP, Segatchian J.