Cord blood, because of its rich mix of fetal and adult
hemoglobin, high platelet and WBC counts, and a plasma filled with
cytokine and
growth factors, as well as its hypo antigenic nature and altered metabolic profile, has all the potential of a real and safe alternative to adult
blood transfusion. Our team's experience (from 1st April 1999 to 1st July 2005) with 123 units of placental umbilical cord whole blood (62 ml-154 ml mean 85 ml +/- 8.4 ml SD, median 82 ml, mean packed cell volume 48.8 +/- 4.2 SD, mean percent
hemoglobin concentration 16.3 g/dl +/- 1.6 g/dl SD; after collection the blood was immediately preserved in a refrigerator and transfused within 72 hours of collection) collected after lower uterine
cesarean section (LUCS), and the transfusion to 16 consenting HIV-positive patients (12 cases had full blown
AIDS) with
anemia and
emaciation is presented here. On the basis of our preliminary experience of cord blood transfusion, we are of the opinion that umbilical cord whole
blood transfusion is safe in HIV-positive patients. This blood has the potential to carry more
oxygen than adult blood and it does not trigger any clinical, immunological or non-immunological reaction after its transfusion to an adult host with a HIV-positive status. Apart from the correction of
anemia, there was also definite improvement in the energy and
fatigue levels in individuals with HIV, i.e., physical functioning, a sense of well-being and
weight gain from two to five pounds, within three to ten months of the commencement of transfusion. There was also an immediate rise in CD34 levels of peripheral blood in the HLA-randomized host after transfusion, without any clinical graft vs host reaction.