Transfusion therapy in solid organ transplantation.

Numerous transfusion issues arise in the support of solid organ transplantation. ABO and HLA can cause graft rejection immunity or problems in transfusion support. Blood usage has been reduced by the use of erythropoietin in renal failure and aprotinin during liver transplants. Multifactorial coagulopathy during liver transplant surgery continues to be a challenge requiring close monitoring, however. The beneficial effect of transfusions on graft survival has lessened in recent years, but remains an area of active research.