Partial exchange transfusion in sickle cell anemia. Use in children with serious complications
P. Lanzkowsky, A. Shende, G. Karayalcin, Y. J. Kim and A. J. Aballi
Seventeen children with sickle cell anemia received 40 partial exchange
transfusions for serious complications of sickle cell anemia, and
preoperatively to reduce the risk of anesthesia. Each patient received two
partial exchange transfusions at 24-hour intervals and all patients
tolerated the exchange transfusions well. The mean hematocrit level rose
from 22.9% before the exchange transfusion to 40.6% at the end of the
second exchange. The mean sickle hemoglobin level decreased from 93.8%
before the exchange to 28.0% after the second exchange. Patients with acute
lung syndrome had remarkable improvement in clinical symptoms and PaO2
levels, and those with acute liver crisis had substantial reduction in
serum bilirubin levels. All the other patients showed marked clinical
improvement following the exchange transfusions.
