Blood Products Use and the Radiation Contamination Algorithm
- Patients with certain kinds of internal contamination (e.g., Polonium-210) can be at risk for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)
- Patients with ARS will be immunosuppressed.
- They are at risk for post-transfusion graft versus host disease (GVHD).
- Guidelines suggest that these patients should receive blood products that have been both
- Irradiated and
- Leuko-reduced
- If irradiated, leuko-reduced blood is unavailable,
- Emergency transfusions may still be considered.
- Attention should be paid to possible post-transfusion GVHD.
- Most patients with external contamination but no known radiation exposure
- Are unlikely to develop ARS
- Should be evaluated for ARS before receiving blood products
- This algorithm and supporting material provide guidelines, not mandates.
- See REMM Blood Products page for more details.