[Side-effects of continuous and discontinuous cytapheresis]

The authors evaluate the incidence of complications in 767 cytapreheses made on two types of blood cell separators. Complications, incl. technical problems before cytapheresis proper, were encountered more frequently during work with the discontinuous blood cell separators Haemonetics model 30 (27.%) than during work with the continuous automatic blood cell separator Fenwal CS 3000 (13.2%). Most frequently collapse and symptoms of hypocalcaemia were involved. Serious reactions account only for 7.6 and 4.4% of all reactions. The authors discuss the causes and possible prevention of complications during cytapheresis. With regard to the assessed results cytaprehesis by means of a separator can be considered a safe method in blood donors.