Uneventful administration of plasma products in a recipient with T-activated red cells

A patient with T-polyagglutinable red cells and a severe coagulopathy provided an opportunity to observe the results of plasma transfusion in the face of T-activation. The patient was a 52-year-old Navajo Indian with a perforated gall bladder and related sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens. The gall bladder was removed surgically. Postoperatively, he had severe thrombocytopenia, and prolonged partial thromboplastin and prothrombin times. The patient's red cells were agglutinated by Arachis hypogaea and Glycine soja lectins but were unagglutinated by extracts of Salvia horminum, Salvia sclarea, and Bandeiraea simplicifolia. No untoward reactions or any evidence of hemolysis were observed when the patient was given platelet concentrates and 4 units of single-donor plasma. Serial plasma hemoglobin and haptoglobin levels documented that there was no hemolysis. His coagulopathy responded, and he had a successful surgical re-exploration and recovery. This case documents that serious adverse consequences do not necessarily follow transfusion of plasma in a recipient with T-activated red cells. T-activation is a relative but not absolute contraindication to plasma transfusion.