EVALUATION OF POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF IRRADIATION OF BLOOD PRODUCTS ON PATIENTS

Background: Blood transfusion is a life-saving but high-risk procedure in various medical conditions as it is not a simple fluid infusion but an organ transplant. Although blood transfusions save lives, they may cause serious, life-threatening reactions. Nowadays, the number of reactions has decreased significantly with the reduction of leucocyte content of blood products or their irradiation. Materials and Method: A total of 5582 patients who received irradiated blood products in our hospital between 14/08/2020 and 17/02/2023 were included in the present study. Erythrocyte suspension, platelet apheresis, and pooled platelet suspension were irradiated at doses of 25–30 Gy. Results: A total of 5582 blood products including 4990 erythrocyte suspensions, 282 pooled platelet suspensions, and 310 platelet apheresis were irradiated in the present study. No transfusion-associated Graft Versus Host Disease was identified in any patient included in the present study and there were only mild allergic reactions and febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions. Conclusions: Based on the data obtained here from, it was concluded that irradiation of blood products can prevent the highly fatal transfusion-related Graft Versus Host Disease.