I would insist on CMV-negative blood for Yashar, especially given his young age. I was CMV-negative. However, my doctor didn't always note this in my orders for blood. He thought it would be harder to get, and I was on the IST route. Unfortunately, I wasn't wise enough to the self-advocacy thing early in my disease and didn't realize the importance of CMV status. I didn't check the blood bags initially. Consequently, I am now CMV positive. My blood products were irradiated and leukocyte-reduced. It is my understanding that being CMV-positive puts a person at increased risk of transplant complications.
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55 yo female, dx 9/08, AA/hypo-MDS, subclinical PNH, ATG/CsA 12/08, partial response. small trisomy 6 clone, low-dose cyclosporine dependent
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