NHS Warns of Rare Brain Disease Risk in Blood Transfusions
NHS Blood and Transplant has acknowledged a potential risk of a rare brain disease, iatrogenic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (ICAA), being transmitted through medical procedures. This concern has been raised following research in the US that found a link between medical procedures and the early onset of this condition. The disease, typically affecting people in their 70s and 80s, can appear much earlier in rare cases, especially after medical procedures.
The Safety Advisory Body on Transfusion Transmitted Infections (SaBTO) has recommended enhanced screening and risk assessment for medical procedures in the UK to prevent the transmission of ICAA. This comes after US researchers discovered that two out of 35 patients (6%) who developed ICAA had a history of medical procedures decades before showing symptoms. Both patients were much younger than usual, at 47 and 57, and already had severe disease. Professor James Neuberger, chair of SaBTO, has expressed concern about the risk of ICAA transmission through medical procedures.
Despite the UK's safe medical procedures, they should only be given when necessary due to the risks involved. ICAA is a brain disease caused by the buildup of a protein called amyloid in the blood vessels, making them fragile and prone to bleeding.
The UK's medical safety measures are being reviewed in light of these findings. SaBTO's recommendations aim to minimize the risk of ICAA transmission through medical procedures. Medical procedures will continue to be a vital treatment, but their necessity will be carefully considered to balance the benefits with the potential risks.
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