Transfusion support in liver transplantation.

As liver transplantation becomes increasingly common and complex, the demands on the transfusion service grow. Liver transplant recipients present unique challenges not only in terms of blood supply, but requirements for specialized blood components, serologic problems, and immunologic effects of transfusion on both the allograft and the recipient. As a result of immunosuppression, liver transplant recipients are more susceptible to some transfusion complications such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection but not to transfusion associated graft versus host disease. The transfusion specialist must recommend the optimal approach to reducing the risk of these complications in liver transplant recipients.