Adverse events in peripheral progenitor cell collection: A 7-year experience

Collection of peripheral progenitor cells (PPC) by apheresis machines is ge nerally regarded as a safe procedure. However, data about adverse events in PPC harvesting are scarce. In a monocentric retrospective study, the data of 540 PPC collections in a period of 7 years were reviewed. Adverse events were subdivided in collection-associated technical problems and patient/do nor-related side effects. Patient/donor-related side effects occurred most often (19.8%); most of them were paresthesias due to citrate toxicity. Pare sthesias were treated by oral (20.4%) or intravenous (1.1%) calcium supplem entation. Problems with venous access were also seen frequently, resulting in blood flow alarms (11.3%) and blockades in the return line (4.3%). A tot al of 6.9% of these problems were catheter associated, requiring revision o f the central venous line in 2.6%. Technical problems with the blood cell s eparators were observed in 11.7%. Ten PPC collections were discontinued due to adverse events. The data of this retrospective, monocentric analysis sh ow that patient/donor-associated problems were observed in every fifth PPC harvest. Most of them were paresthesias, which could be easily treated by c alcium supplementation. Problems with venous access and technical problems with the cell separators occurred in every tenth PPC collection.