Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Blood Doners

Hi everyone,

I have a question just to see how things stand around the globe.
A few years ago I wanted to donate blood.
After I was done with the questionnaire that they give to first timers, the nurse took me in a private room to tell me that because I have Ankylosing Spondilytis, I could not donate blood.
I have heard that in some places outside of here (Manitoba Canada) they are aloud to donate blood.
Has anyone else tried to give blood and was rejected because of AS?

Ray

Hello Ray,

I was denied back 12 years ago because of meds I was on. I can not recall if they mentioned AS specifically as well.

Tim

I've been told I can't, for two reasons -

1) My psoriatic arthritis
2) I was in the UK when they had the mad cow disease problem. (Brits in NZ can't give blood if they were in the UK during that time, so I was told, as eating the beef can cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease).

I was denied to be a blood/bone marrow donor because of AS. They said that it was because they couldn't guarantee that AS is not something that is passed through the blood.

Jilligan

Specifically, I don't remember a question on the US blood donor form that asks about AS or any form of arthritis. None of the standard DMARDs or biologics are on the deferral list. I wouldn't donate now because I'm on methotrexate, even though it's not listed. AS is an inherited tendancy...can't catch it from a transfusion.

[url=medication deferral list for blood donation]http://www.aabb.org/Documents/Donate_Blood/Donor_History_Questionnaire/udhqmeddefv1-2.pdf[/url]

Here is some additional info on donating blood (US specifically)

[url=blood donation faq]http://www.aabb.org/Content/Donate_Blood/Blood_Donation_FAQs/donatefaqs.htm[/url]

(The preview pane for this post looks weird, so I don't know if it will look right)

I could see not being approved as a marrow donor, but not blood donor.

Due to AS being linked to the HLA B27, THAT could be an issue since the marrow recipient would then have the genetic basis to develop the disease. Don't know if it has happened, though. (I donated marrow to my son 20 yrs ago, but he is deceased now. It wasn't mentioned as an issue at the time of the testing pre-transplant. I was only diagnosed last year.)

Hi Rumble,
Bone marrow donors have to be completely HLA typed.
Since a haplotype is transferred from each parent then the chances of getting a good match is best with twin, then sibling, then parent. Matching HLA types with unrelated individuals is literally a one in a million proposition and thats why marrow data banks/registers have been established. Incomplete matches mean that the recipient then has to been on immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lifes. Even then organs will eventually be rejected. Eyes and kidneys are best tolerated transplants when not matched.
I would think that a HLA B27+ individual could be matched to another HLA B27+ individual OK. I wonder though if bone marrow from someone with AS would be a problem and cause AS in the B27 positive recipient, especially since the bone marrow is involved/inflammed in AS?? Although the recipient may not have the other genetic risk factors which contribute to AS so that might be protective.

Without immunosuppression the recipient can develop a condition called Graft Versus Host where the graft takes over and eventually rejects (kills) the recipient - not nice.

Cheers David

My husband has been a life time giver and they quit taking it because of the MTX. I have been on one med or another that kept them from wanting mine most of my life. They told us it was the meds not the AS or RA. They weren't thrilled with Lupus though. :o) Neither am I!

Possi

Jilligan

I am thinking, is it just in Canada that we are not accepted as donors?
I'd like to hear more people from all over if they are or not denied as blood donor specifically because of AS?
Thanks for your reply.

Ray

Hey Ray, I was told that I cannot donate anymore due to the AS and the fact that they don't know how it is contracted.

This is a shame because I'm blood type O- which is sought after in particular for preemies, as it is the Universal Donor Type. They're always screaming for O- ... except mine.

We talked about this here a few years back and I believe I recall a few of our American cousins saying they couldn't donate either.

Warm hugs,