better blood

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o Special Topics: Better Blood

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Special Topics

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Better Blood

Television News Service/Medical Breakthroughs

©Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. 1999

Some donated blood is specially treated and less likely than standard

blood to cause health problems for patients who receive it. In seven

other countries, including England, all hospital patients get it. It's

expensive, however; and unless you're very sick or at one of a handful

of American hospitals, you'll have to ask for it.

The American Red Cross estimates that every two seconds, every day of

the year, an American needs donated blood. Today it's 23-year-old

Lazenby's turn. He's had internal bleeding following a bone marrow

transplant. " It's definitely kept me alive, and I wouldn't be sitting

here without all the blood products that I've had, " he says.

is not getting ordinary blood, however; it's leukoreduced blood.

It's been filtered to remove white blood cells. These cells cause 90

percent of transfusion-related illnesses. Yet, experts estimate just 17

percent of transfused blood in America is leukoreduced, and most of that

goes to the sickest patients, like premature babies, anemics, heart

surgery patients and transplant recipients.

Dr. Anne oversees the Vanderbilt Medical Center Blood Bank in

Nashville, Tenn., and gives leukoreduced blood to all patients. " I think

there's enough data to suggest that it is helpful for the patient

population as a whole, " says Dr. .

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration chimed in. " It was

their unanimous recommendation that all blood transfused be leukoreduced

because of its added safety and benefits, " says Dr. . However,

there's no national list. The only way to know if your hospital has it

is to ask. didn't know to ask, but lucky for him, other people did.

Leukoreduced blood does not protect against HIV or hepatitis, but these

are not common in today's blood supply. Dr. suggests you talk

with your doctor about your transfusion options.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Howser

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

CCC-3312 Medical Center North

Nashville, TN 37232-2390

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