In this disease, lymphocyte white blood cells from the transfused blood multiply and react against the recipient's tissues. When the donor and recipient are both from the general U.S. population, the probability of their sharing a tissue-type substance is very low. The closer the relatedness, the greater the risk. In a parent-child relationship, the risk is double that in a relationship between grandparent, uncle or aunt. To reduce the risk, the American Association of Blood Banks recommends irradiating blood derived from all donors who are blood relatives of the recipient.
Irradiation suppresses proliferation of lymphocytes contained in the transfused blood.
Blood treated this way must meet special FDA licensing requirements, such as permanent labeling that it has been irradiated. For the Future A look to the future may envision the ultimate alternative to homologous transfusion to be artificial blood. As blood is extremely complex, however, the dream of a true substitute may never be realized. The ideal artificial blood oxygen carrier would pick up oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to all tissues, have a long shelf life with stability at room temperature, be compatible with all blood types, and present no risk of infection, immune reaction, or other health problem. But the product carried limited amounts of oxygen and had other drawbacks.