Aspectos relevantes da leucorredução de hemocomponentes na prática transfusional

Abstract

The blood transfusion is a practice widely used around the world and, even though it is fundamental in current medicine, it still presents risks to the transfused patients, known as the adverse effects. These adverse effects are also caused by leukocytes present in blood components, therefore one way to reduce the severity and quantity of these unwanted transfusion reactions is by the leukoreduction of blood components. Also called deleucocytation, this practice consists of removing most of the leukocytes in the blood component that are going to be transfused. Through a narrative review of articles relevant and pertinent to the area, giving preference to more recent articles, but including older texts that are clarifying, the most used methods of leukoreduction were exposed, such as the use of leucoductor filters and the collection of blood component by apheresis, the advantages that this practice presents, focusing on the reduction of related adverse effects, and the disadvantages, mainly associated with higher expenses related to large-scale leukoreduction and the relevant legislation. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]