Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Cytomegalovirus Infections: Which is the Optimal Strategy?

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, leukoreduction and selection of blood products from seronegative donors have been used as alternative strategies to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infections (TT-CMV) in atrisk patients. After the introduction of universal leukoreduction for red blood cell and platelet concentrates in Germany, a controversy evolved as to whether the additional selection of blood products from seronegative donors would reduce or even increase the risk of TT-CMV. This review summarizes the current knowledge about CMV infections in blood donors and the implications of this information on the effect of potential transfusion strategies. Even though there are conflicting data about the incidence of TT-CMV remaining after the introduction of leukodepletion, it has been c

SUBMITTER: Ziemann M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3949610 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature