leukoreduzierten

Leukoreduzierten refers to a process applied to blood products, most commonly transfused blood components like red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. The primary goal of leukoreduction is to remove leukocytes, also known as white blood cells, from these blood products. This is typically achieved through specialized filtration methods during the collection or processing of the blood.

The removal of leukocytes is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to reduce the risk of febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs), which are a common adverse reaction to blood transfusions and are largely caused by the recipient's immune system reacting to foreign leukocytes present in the transfused product. Secondly, leukoreduction can decrease the transmission of certain intracellular pathogens, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), as CMV resides within leukocytes. For immunocompromised patients, particularly those undergoing organ transplantation or suffering from certain hematological disorders, CMV infection can be a serious complication. Furthermore, leukoreduction is believed to play a role in preventing alloimmunization, where a patient develops antibodies against foreign white blood cells, which can complicate future transfusions. While not all blood products are universally leukoreduced, it is standard practice in many countries for most transfused blood components, especially in developed healthcare systems, due to its proven benefits in improving transfusion safety and patient outcomes.