Recent developments in hematology and transfusion medicine

Transfusion of allogeneic blood products carry a small but not negligible r isk for the transmission of infections and may have immunosuppressive or im munogenic effects. The discovery, licensing, and clinical use of hematopoie tic cytokines such as erythropoietin or thrombopoietin may reduce the requi rements for allogeneic blood transfusions. However, the effectiveness has s o far only been demonstrated in limited clinical situations. Further progre ss in avoiding allogeneic transfusions can be expected from the development of artificial blood cell substitutes. The potential and limits of these ne w techniques and substances to manage pancytopenia in cancer patients are r eviewed briefly.