Comparative efficacy in red blood cell exchange transfusions with different apheresis machines in patients with sickle cell disease

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and side effects of two red blood cell exchange (RBCX) transfusion systems in sickle cell disease (SCD). The data is collected retrospectively from the January 2010 to March 2015. 447 RBCX transfusions were performed to 165 patients. Side effects, clinical and technical efficacy were compared in between procedures with Cobe Spectra (CS) and Spectra Optia (SO) systems. Furthermore a subgroup analyses was performed for 40 patients who had RBCX transfusions with both system at least two times. Vasoocclusive crises, preoperative period and foot ulcers (49.6, 13, and 15.2% respectively) were the common indications of RBCX transfusion. While the levels of post-RBCX HbS and the actual fraction of cells remaining (FCRa) were found significantly higher in the SO compared to CS system (p = 0.018 and p = 0.016 respectively), the rate of targeted hemoglobin S (HbS) levels (< 30%) were same in both. The length of procedure and replacement volume were significantly lower in SO compared to CS system (p = 0.025 and 0.044 respectively). Subgroup analyses of 40 patients did not reveal any statistically significant differences regarding post-procedure HbS levels, FCRa levels, replacement volume and procedure duration. The inter-rater correlation coefficient for FCRa was calculated to be 0.82. Serious adverse reactions were not observed from either system. Both systems are efficiently achieved the targeted post-procedure HbS level. The recently introduced SO apheresis system is as effective and safe as the CS system, which has been used for all indications of SCD for years.