Swedish transfusion medicine in a ten-year perspective--a brief review

Although the scientific activity within blood preservation, plasma fractionation and treatment of coagulation disorders had been quite active in Sweden before 1978, the national coordination and self support with plasma products was insufficient. A programme for research and development was initiated in 1978 and resulted in important improvements. The production and use of blood components instead of the previous whole blood transfusion rose from 15% to 93% within 10 years and the supply of high quality plasma for industrial fractionation rose from 5,500 kg in 1978 to 86,700 kg in 1986. Transfusion transmitted HIV infection came as a new threat, first in haemophiliacs treated with imported coagulation factor concentrates, later also in patients treated with products from Swedish donors. After 1985 significant improvements were obtained by the introduction of anti-HIV testing of all blood donations and methods for virus reduction of fractionated plasma products. The use of more aggressive cytostatic therapy in haemotological malignancies has drastically increased the need of platelet concentrates for transfusion and has focused attention on platelet compatibility problems. The 10-year period 1978-87 has thus implied great changes in Swedish transfusion medicine with increased quality of haemotherapy and improved regional coordination.