Steroid therapy - Bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell

Essential information

Obligatory

1. Must not donate if:
   1. Regularly taking steroid tablets, injections or enemas, or applying creams over large areas.
   2. The donor has needed treatment to suppress an autoimmune condition in the last 12 months.
   3. Less than 7 days after completing a course of oral or injected steroids for disorders associated with allergy.
      
      
2. Bone marrow donor:
   Inform anaesthetist if:
   Course of steroids in last month.

Discretionary

1. If occasional use of creams over small areas of skin for minor skin complaints, accept.
2. If using steroid inhalers for prophylaxis, accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant

• Autoimmune disease
• Liver disease
• Skin disease
• Tissue and cell allograft recipients

Additional information

Steroid therapy in high doses causes immunosuppression. This may mask infective and inflammatory conditions that would otherwise prevent donation.

Regulatory information

Part of this advice is a requirement of the EU Tissue and Cells Directive.

Reason for change:

To clarify when donors who have used steroid therapy may donate.

Version details:

BM-DSG Edition 203 Release 02 (11 December 2007)