Successful Use of a Midline Catheter for Leukapheresis in Patients Undergoing Collection for Immune Effector Cell Therapy, Donor Lymphocyte Infusion, and Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Collection

Abstract

Apheresis is essential to conducting hematopoietic cell transplantation and genetically engineered cellular therapy procedures. Many patients and donors require central venous catheter (CVC) access for apheresis due to lack of adequate peripheral venous access. CVC placement has risks of associated complications and requires additional institutional resources and expertise. We present a single institutional experience with 78 patients, who underwent a total of 87 apheresis procedures after placement of a midline catheter. This included 49 individuals who collected cells for immune effector cell therapy. Apheresis through midline catheter was successful in 81 out of 87 procedures. There were no midline catheter associated thromboses or infections. Six patients required placement of a backup CVC and were able to undergo apheresis without delay. Our experience shows that use of midline catheter for apheresis is feasible and generalizable to most populations requiring cellular therapy, with the potential to decrease utilization of limited healthcare resources.