Adverse reactions during transfusion of thawed haematopoietic progenitor cells from apheresis are closely related to the number of granulocyte cells in the leukapheresis product

Background and Objectives The infusion of thawed haematopoietic progenitor cells from apheresis (HPC-A) is associated with minor but frequent adverse reactions (ARs), which has been mainly attributed to dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). Nevertheless, other factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of such toxicity. Materials and Methods The ARs on a cohort of 423 cryopreserved HPC-A infusions for 398 patients in HPC transplantation program were analysed. Results ARs were reported in 105 graft infusions (24 center dot 8%) and most of them were graded as mild to moderate. The most frequently reported ARs were gastrointestinal and respiratory, and three patients presented epileptic seizure. The volume of DMSO/kg (P < 0 center dot 001), volume of red-blood-cells/kg (P = 0 center dot 02), number of nuclear cells (NCs)/kg (P < 0 center dot 001) and number of granulocytes/kg (P < 0 center dot 001) in the infused graft were significant in the univariate analysis for the occurrence of ARs. The amount of granulocytes/kg remained significant in the multivariate analysis (P < 0 center dot 001). The grade of ARs also correlated with the amount of cryopreserved granulocytes. Conclusion The incidence and grade of ARs during infusion of cryopreserved HPC-A are related to the amount of granulocytes in the graft.