Hemaferese; folder Matchis Engels

This brochure was prepared by 

The Apheresis department for donors are donating their cells through Macthis. 

You have recently undergone a medical examination for a stem cell donation. Once the collection date is  comfiremd and you have been approved as a stem cell donor, the next step will  begin.(in some cases you may not yet have official approval, but you can still proceed with te next steps) 

You will receive the filgrastim (growth factors) from the LUMC hospital pharmacy. You will be called for a medication check prior to delivery. This means that the pharmacy assistant will call to check whether and which medication you are taking. You will then receive an email with a link to schedule your filgrastim delivery. The filgrastim can also be delivered in the evening. 

Before starting the filgrastim, you will receive a phone call from the Apheresis nurse, for checking any questions or indistinctness. After the phone call you will then receive an email from the Apheresis department, containing the mobilization schedule (including the start data an dosage) and if is necessary, the link to the video.: filgrastim administration in the LUMC”. Via the website:  https://youtu.be/nH31ZPPQwkg. Or through the QR code: 

This explains step by   

Step how to use the 

Filgrastim 

Donating stem cells 

Peripheral stem cells 

Stem cells are normally only found in the bone marrow and to a very small extent in the blood. By administering growth factors to the donor, the bone marrow is strongly activated to temporarily produce extra stem cells. This increase in stem cells ultimately ensures that the stem cells enter the bloodstream. The growth factor injections are administered subcutaneously over five days 

Side effects 

During the days that the growth factor is administered, most donor experience some bone, muscle and headache pain and sometimes a flulike feeling, occasionally accompanied by a mild fever. A temperature of up to 38.5°C is acceptable. You can use paracetamol against these complaints, other painkillers only in consultation with the Matchis doctor or the blood transfusion medicine doctor or the Apheresis department of the LUMC. The most discomfort will subside within 24 hours after the last injection, and all the symptoms should resolve within 48 hours. Very rarely, more serious side effects occur. If you experience pain on the left side, always contact your doctor! If necessary, you will be connected to the blood transfusion medicine doctor on duty. 

Day of Collection 

On the fifth day after starting the growth factors, the stem cells are harvested on the Apheresis department C-11-P room 44 or Route 265. 

During an Apheresis procedure, a steel needle is inserted into one arm and an iv needle is inserted  into the other arm. In certain situations you can deviate from this and you will receive two infusion needles. The  blood flows through a sterile tubing system into an apheresis device. In this device, the different blood cells are separated from each other, while stem cells are collected separately. The remaining blood components are then to the donor through the infusion needle. The duration of a stem cell apheresis is a maximum of eight hours. On average, a stem cell apheresis takes four to six hours. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedure the next day if the desired amount of stem cells has not been achieved on the first day. Because a needle is inserted into both arms, your freedom of movement is limited during the apheresis period. The stem cells are administered to the patient the same or the next day. 

Useful tips:

• Make sure that someone is with you during the first administration of the growth factors. 
• Take it easy for the first hour after administration. 
• Only use paracetamol for pain relief, no nsaids. 
• Do not participation in traffic during the first hour after administration. 
• Bring comfortable clothing or wear it (sweatpants, vest). 
• Think of entertainment such as tablet/laptop/game/book/magazine. 
• Someone can be with you all day. 
• You are not allowed to go home alone at the end of the day, so provide transportation or arrange a taxi by Matchis (take the waiting time for the taxi into account). 
• Coffee/the, soft drinks and bread meal are available for you ( bring your own supplies if you have specific dietary requirements). 
• Apheresis department is available on workdays from 8:00am to 5.30pm. 
• Outside office hours and public holidays you can be connected to the blood transfusion doctor on duty by the general LUMC number. 

Important telephone numbers: