THE USE OF REPLACEMENT TRANSFUSION IN DISEASES OTHER THAN HEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN

Abstract

The technic of exchange transfusion in adults and children is given. It differs from that in newborns only by the use of arm or leg veins and of a motor driven pump to withdraw and inject the blood. The use of exchange transfusion in acute toxemia with anuria was tried on the theory that by withdrawing sufficient toxic products, the patient could be tided over the acute phase. Seven patients were thus treated, all with success. The use of exchange transfusion in leukemia is based on the theory that normal persons have an antileukemic substance in their blood. Thirty-eight cases were treated with the following results: 30 clinical remissions, of which 15 also had peripheral blood remissions; and of these, 6 had complete clinical peripheral blood and marrow remissions. The author concludes by pointing out some possible applications of this technic.