Practical transfusion medicine

The pace of change in transfusion medicine is relentless, with new scientific and technological developments. In addition, efforts are continuing to improve clinical transfusion practice and avoid the use of blood wherever possible. This fourth edition continues to be a concise and comprehensive guide to transfusion medicine. It has been thoroughly revised and updated throughout. The scope of the book has been broadened by including more international authors and a new co-editor, Professor Nancy Heddle, an expert in evidence-based transfusion medicine. This book is ideal for trainee/resident haematologists revising for examinations and as a reference source for clinical and scientific staff working in the field of transfusion medicine.

Introduction: recent evolution of transfusion medicine -- Part one: basic principles of immunohaematology. -- Essential immunology for transfusion medicine -- Human blood group systems -- Human leucocyte antigens -- Platelet and neutrophil antigens -- Part two: Complications of transfusions. -- Investigation of acute transfusion reactions -- Haemolytic transfusion reactions -- Febrile and allergic transfusion reactions -- Acute lung injury after transfusion -- Purported adverse effects of transfusion-related immunomodulation and of the transfusion of 'old blood' -- Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease and microchimerism -- Posttransfusion purpura -- Transfusion-transmitted infections -- Bacterial contamination -- Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease -- Emerging infections and transfusion safety -- Part three: Practice in blood centres and hospitals. Regulatory aspects of blood transfusion -- The role of haemovigilance in transfusion safety -- Donors and blood collection -- Blood donation testing and the safety of the blood supply -- Production and storage of blood components -- Medicolegal aspects of transfusion practice -- Blood transfusion in hospitals -- Blood transfus…