Best Practices of Apheresis in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

In this book, world-renowned experts in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation examine a range of issues and controversies relating to apheresis, with the aim of identifying current trends and best practices. Readers will find up-to-date guidance on donor evaluation, CD34⁺ cell mobilization strategies, options and selection of apheresis device, anticoagulation techniques in apheresis, the role of prediction algorithms in determining procedure eligibility and length, and the prevention and management of complications. Applications of apheresis devices in the processing of bone marrow grafts are discussed, and detailed attention is devoted to the indications and rationale for therapeutic apheresis procedures, with individual chapters focusing on therapeutic plasma exchange and immunoadsorption, red cell exchange, and extracorporeal photopheresis. Finally, the applications of apheresis in pediatric donors and in resource-limiting environments are considered. This book, featuring numerous helpful tables, algorithms, and figures, will be of high practical value for residents, fellows, faculty members and other healthcare personnel involved in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Anand Padmanabhan is Medical Director at the BloodCenter of Wisconsin and Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. He completed his medical education at Thanjavur Medical College in India, followed by graduate studies (MA, PhD) in biochemistry at Brown University and residency and fellowship training at Columbia University and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, respectively. He also serves as Medical director of the Hematopoietic stem cell collection (apheresis) arm of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s HSCT program. He has interest and experience in clinical trials involving use of new apheresis devices, and in the optimization of stem cell collection for the purpose of facilitating HSCTs. He also has translational research interests in the area of immunologically challenging solid organ transplants and in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. Dr. Padmanabhan has published extensively in

the area of apheresis use in cellular collections and is passionate about optimizing care for both patients and donors.

Syed A. Abutalib, MD Assistant Director, Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Program Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Syed Abutalib, M.D., is Assistant Director of FACT accredited Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy program; he joined CTCA in 2008 as a hematologist/oncologist. Dr. Abutalib earned his medical degree from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, and subsequently completed a residency in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Board certified in medical oncology, and hematology, Dr. Abutalib specializes in benign hematology, malignant hematology and hematopoietic blood and marrow cell transplantation. While maintaining a rigorous schedule tending to his beloved patients, Dr. Abutalib makes it a priority to volunteer his outside time towa

rd his other passion for continuing medical education – including speaking, writing, and association presentations.

Dr. Abutalib has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including American Journal of Hematology, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, and American Journal of Clinical Pathology and has written chapters for medical textbooks, including Acute Leukemias (2008), Evidence-Based Hematology (2008), Expert Hematology & Oncology Essentials (2014), Cancer Consult: Expertise for Clinical Practice (2014), and Clinical Manual for Blood & Marrow Transplantation (2016).
Dr. Abutalib is the editor of several books including, Cancer Consult: Expertise for Clinical Practice, Clinical Manual of Blood & Marrow Transplantation, and Concepts and Controversies in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. He is on the editorial board for Clinical Oncology News and is currently on the editorial board for The ASCO POST and contributes in the column “Expert Hematology Review”. Most recently, he has been selected to be a reviewer for the Journal “Blood Reviews”.

Nina Worel is a specialist for Transfusion Medicine and Associate Professor at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. She completed her medical education at the Medical University of Vienna, followed by residency and fellowship training at the Department of bone marrow transplantation and the Department for Transfusion Medicine/University of Vienna, respectively. She also serves as Medical director of the tissue establishment of the Medical University Vienna and is responsible for hematopoietic stem cell and bone marrow collection and therapeutic apheresis. 

She has interest and experience in clinical trials involving optimization of stem cell mobilization and stem cell procurement methods and is involved in preparation of the guide to quality and safety of tissues and cells for human application of the European Committee on Organ Transplantation (EDQM). She is the

Austrian JACIE national representative and 7th edition Collection Standards Sub-Committee Co-Chair.

Beside publications on stem cell mobilization and collection, Dr. Worel has mainly published in the field of therapeutic apheresis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with a focus on extracorporeal photopheresis for treatment of graft-versus-host disease, plasma exchange for treatment of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, and therapeutic and prophylactic red cell exchange in patients with minor-ABO incompatible donors.