Prestorage Leukocyte Depletion with In-Line Filtration of Whole Blood in Comparison with Blood Component Leukocyte Depletion

In-line filtration of blood components appears to be an effective method to reduce white-cell-induced adverse reactions. We have investigated whether whole blood filtration (WBF), prior to component preparation, is comparable with filtration of already prepared blood components (CF), i.e. the red cell concentrate (RCC) and fresh plasma. Conventionally prepared nonfiltered blood components served as a control. No significant differences for most parameters investigated were found between leukodepleted RCCs and plasma units prepared by CF or WBF. All filtered RCCs and plasma units (CF and WBF) had white blood cell contaminations <1'10⁵ per unit. Platelets were reduced in all filtered components: 95% in plasma and 99% in RCCs. Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) prepared by CF and WBF had normal amounts of factors V, VIII, von Willebrand factor and thrombin-antithrombin-III complexes, whereas platelet factor 4 (PF-4) was slightly increased in FFP prepared by WBF. RCCs and plasma units prepared from filtered whole blood (n = 20) had a significantly greater volume (RCC: 288±19 ml; plasma: 274±20 ml) than conventionally prepared (n = 20) and filtered products (RCC: 257±19 ml, plasma: 259±19 ml). For early filtration of blood components, WBF prior to component preparation seems to offer an interesting technique for obtaining a leukocyte-depleted RCC and FFP.