One year review of the blood cell separator programme

Using the Haemonetic Model 30 intermittent continuous flow centrifuge, 142 procedures, including 64 granulocytes and platelets, 68 platelet collection, 8 therapeutic leukapheresis and 2 plasmapheresis were performed. Granulocyte transfusions (mean collection 1.39 x 10(10) granulocytes) were given to 27 neutropenic patients for febrile episodes which were unresponsive to systemic antibiotics. Thirty-eight thrombocytopenic patients received a mean of 4.2 x 10(11) platelets per collection. Bleeding was controlled in most of the patients who received transfusion with a mean rise in platelet count of 30.6 x 10(9)/L. Therapeutic leukapheresis were performed on 3 patients with chronic leukaemias. A mean of 2.53 x 10(11) cells were collected per run with a mean fall of 58.2 x 10(9)/L in the patients' white blood cell count. Plasmapheresis was used to treat 1 patient with multiple myeloma. The authors' experience demonstrates that cell separator support is essential for patients with bone marrow depression and that the therapeutic leukapheresis is effective therapy for selected patients with chronic leukaemias. Plasmapheresis is effective in patients with hyperviscosity syndrome.