Effect of the Leukostop((R)) filter on pulmonary function following blood transfusion in patients with thalassemia major

This study evaluated the effect of the Leukostop(R) filter, a device which reduces the number of leukocytes in blood, on pulmonary function in 15 pati ents with thalassemia major. Spirometry and oxygen saturation were used to evaluate the influence of filtering the blood. The transfusions consisted o f blood which had or had not passed through a Leukostop(R) filter. Blood transfusion induced a significant drop in FEV1/FVC ratio in 4 patient s, an effect which disappeared following use of the Leukostop(R) filter. Ox ygen saturation improved after 6 months of using the Leukostop(R) filter an d improved acutely following blood transfusion (both with and without the f ilter). We conclude that removing most of the leukocytes from the blood during tran sfusions prevents bronchoconstriction and improves oxygen saturation. (C) 1 999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.