Risk factors for adverse events during collection of peripheral blood stem cells

We retrospectively reviewed peripheral blood stem cell (PBSCs) collections following 528 mobilization cycles over a 10-year period. A total of 206 (13.1%) AEs occurred in association with the 1572 procedures. One hundred and ninety-one (12.15%) of the AEs were classified as clinical AEs and 15 (0.95%) were classified as apheresis instrument related AEs. The most common clinical AE was numbness of the lips, tongue, or extremities (161 procedures, 10.2%) related to the infusion of acid citrate dextrose-A (ACD). Multivariate analysis revealed high amounts of ACD/weight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11, p = 0.009), high numbers of procedures (OR = 1.33, p < 0.001) and female gender (OR = 2.83, p < 0.001) as being significantly associated with clinical AEs. Female gender was shown to be the most important risk factor for clinical AEs. Females who have a significantly increased risk of AEs would benefit from prophylactic calcium before and/or during PBSC collection.