Sunlight exposure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a serious complication of blood component transfusion therapy, caused by donor T lymphocytes.γ-Irradiation or pathogen inactivation methods, capable of inactivating proliferating T cells in blood components, should be selected to prevent TA-GVHD. This review summarizes the published evidence to support the use of pathogen-reduced platelets with amotosalen (150 μm) and ultraviolet A light(UVA, 320-400 nm, 3 J/cm) for preventing TA-GVHD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Available literature on the use of pathogen-reduced platelets to prevent TA-GVHD was reviewed.

RESULTS: Observational studies, animal models, in vitro studies and mechanistic studies of pathogen-reduced platelets with amotosalen and UVA light showed that inactivation of T cells are equal or even superior toγ-irradiation.

CONCLUSION: Pathogen-reduced platelets with amotosalen and UVA light can be used as a measure to prevent TA-GVHD.