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Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is often complicated by adverse pulmonary events, which are usually ascribed to pneumonia, fluid overload, or chemotherapeutic agents. However, most transplant patients also receive repeated platelet transfusions. How often do such transfusions induce acute lung injury (ALI)?
To find out, researchers analyzed data from the previously published SPRINT trial (Blood 2004; 104:1534), in which 645 patients were randomized to receive HSCT with either photochemical pathogen-inactivated platelets or conventional platelets. ALI diagnoses were made by an expert panel according to published criteria, including the presence of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤300, and no clinical evidence…