Prevalence and Risk of Cataracts in Granulocyte Donors

This study will investigate whether people who donate granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) by leukapheresis are at increased risk of developing cataracts (changes in the lens of the eye that can impair vision). Apheresis is a method of collecting large numbers of white blood cells. The procedure is similar to donating whole blood, but the collected blood is circulated through a cell separator machine, the white cells are extracted, and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. Before the procedure, donors are given a steroid called dexamethasone. This drug temporarily increases the number of granulocytes circulating in the blood, thus allowing twice as many of these cells to be collected.

Recently, one blood collection center reported greater numbers of cataracts in a small number of granulocyte donors who had received repeated doses of steroids for granulocyte mobilization. The donors were unaware that they had the cataracts, which were small and did not affect their vision. Although people who take high doses of steroids over a long period time are known to have an increased risk of cataracts, steroids given infrequently (and in the doses used for granulocyte donation) have not been associated with cataracts. This study will examine the eyes of granulocyte donors and of platelet donors. Platelets-blood components necessary for clotting-are also collected by pheresis, but donors are not given steroids before the procedure. The examination findings will be compared to see if there is a difference in the risk of cataract formation in the two groups.

People 18 years of age and older who have donated granulocytes or platelets at the NIH Department of Transfusion Medicine four times or more since 1984 may be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo the following procedures:

• Detailed medical history, including allergies, corticosteroid use, diabetes mellitus, and asthma
• Detailed eye history, including cataracts, glaucoma, other eye diseases and infections, eye trauma, and corrective lenses
• Detailed history of sun exposure
• Eye examination, including measurement of visual acuity (eye chart test) and eye pressure, examination of the lens and retina.
• Photographs of the eye using a special camera

An increased prevalence of cataracts was recently described in a small number of granulocyte donors who had received repeated doses of adrenal corticosteroids as part of their mobilization regimen for granulocyte donation. Mild posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs) were found in 4 of 11 (36%) of granulocyte donors versus 0 of 9 platelet donors. Though the relationship or corticosteroid administration to the development of PSCs is well established, not all steroid recipients develop such lesions. Observational studies suggest that the development of PSCs is an associated risk if steroids are given for a prolonged period of time (greater than 10 mg/day for 1-2 years). To maximize the cellular yield of granulocytapheresis procedures, granulocyte donors are given a single dose of an adrenal steroid the day prior to donation. Since 1984, it has been standard practice in the NIH Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) to administer dexamethasone 8 mg orally 12 hours prior to donation. Since 1996 both dexamethasone 8 mg orally as well as granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF) 5 microg/kg subcutaneously are administered on the day prior to donation to maximize cell yields during apheresis. It is also standard procedure in DTM to restrict granulocyte donation to once per month (12 times/year), with few medical exceptions. To determine the prevalence of ophthalmologic abnormalities, particularly PSCs, in DTM granulocyte donors, we propose to perform a medical history and comprehensive blinded ophthalmologic examination on all consenting granulocyte donors. Age and gender-matched volunteer plateletpheresis donors will be invited as controls. If an increase in the incidence of PSCs or other lens or eye abnormalities is found in the granulocyte donors compared with the plateletpheresis donors, we will attempt to correlate the factors operating during granulocyte donation that are related to this increased risk.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Signed and understood informed consent.

Study subjects must be NIH DTM volunteer apheresis donors who have donated granulocytes on 4 or more occasions since 1984.

Control subjects must be NIH DTM volunteer apheresis donors who have donated platelets on 4 or more occasions since 1984.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Persons less than 18 years old.

Persons who have donated granulocytes outside DTM on more than four occasions.

Persons who have donated platelets outside DTM on more than four occasions.

Donors with a known history of cataracts will NOT be excluded.