From the Central Office
Vox Sanguinis highlights
Fresh from the press
Xiaoyan Yu, Lijuan Liu, Yaru Li, Qian Zhou
Article Highlights:
- Long term regular leukocyte reduced platelet apheresis was linked to significantly reduced NK cell counts and percentages relative to first time controls, suggesting innate immune NK cells are particularly susceptible to apheresis related impacts.
- With plasma rinseback activated for all Trima procedures, lymphocyte subset levels were comparable between Trima and Amicus donors.
- After multiple testing correction, cumulative lifetime donations demonstrated no significant dose response association with lymphocyte subsets. One year donation frequency had no bearing on lymphocyte subset outcomes, and routine hematological indices (WBC, Hb, PLT) remained stable among long term apheresis donors.
First published: 4 October 2026
Alex Osnis, Vered Yahalom, Philip C. Spinella, Eilat Shinar, Marina Izak, Mohammad Shamiea, Merav Barzilai, Jacob Chen, Mark Yazer, Martin Ellis
Article Highlights:
- Low-titer O whole blood (LTOWB) appeared serologically and clinically safe for life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding and post-partum hemorrhage.
- The feasibility of introducing this transfusion strategy into routine practice depends on a consistent supply of LTOWB units.
- Further research is required to determine the efficacy of LTOWB in non-trauma-related massive hemorrhage.
First published: 1 October 2026
Magdalena Łętowska, Anna Krukowska, Dariusz Piotrowski, Zofia Przybylska, Konrad Rosskopf, Angelo Ostuni, Margherita Giannoccaro, Rossella Procacci, Christine Ernst, Johannes Irsch, Laurence Corash, Richard J. Benjamin, Kathy Liu, Linh Dinh, John P. Pitman
Article Highlights:
- Prospective haemovigilance (HV) of 5331 amotosalen/UVA (A\UVA) platelet and plasma transfusions confirmed a low rate of transfusion reactions in routine clinical practice.
- Platelet and plasma utilization remained stable across sequential surveillance periods despite changes in production methods, patient mix and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The findings extend more than two decades of A/UVA post-market HV and support a continued favourable benefit–risk profile for A/UVA-treated platelets and plasma.
First published: 24 September 2026
Claire Bethune, Michael P. Lunn, Mark Foster, Rob Hollingsworth, Darryn Boardman, Siraj A. Misbah
Article Highlights:
- A national, clinician-led immunoglobulin (Ig) stewardship programme combining evidence-based commissioning policy, multidisciplinary sub-regional assessment panels, and a strengthened national database substantially improved governance and equity of access to Ig across England.
- Peer-reviewed decision making enabled safer dosing, supported treatment withdrawal or dose reduction in selected long-term patients, and reduced non-evidence-based prescribing from 8.5% to 1.7%.
- The strategy reset national utilisation, leading to a 12% reduction in Ig use over 5 years and averting almost half of the projected 2025 demand, delivering major and sustained cost savings while safeguarding supply for patients with evidence-based indications.
First published: 23 September 2026
