JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Arrhythmias

Obligatory

1. Must not donate if:
a) Symptomatic or requires treatment


b) The donor is undergoing investigation


c) The donor has a history of an arrhythmia (eg Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia) even if their symptoms have now settled.


2. In other cases:
Refer to a 'Designated Clinical Support Officer'.

Discretionary

1. Donors with a previous history of an arrhythmia triggered by a non-cardiac medical condition which has now been treated (eg thyrotoxicosis), refer to a DCSO.


2. Donors who have been treated by ablation therapy for Supraventricular Tachycardia caused by either AVNRT (Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia) or Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome, and

  • it is at least six months since successful ablation therapy, and
  • the donor does not require regular or ‘as required’ medication for their SVT, and
  • there is no other associated heart disease, and
  • the donor has been discharged from follow up,

accept.


3. Donors with a history of palpitations where the donor has been assessed clinically and a cardiac cause has been excluded, see the entry for ‘Palpitations’.

See if Relevant

Cardiovascular Disease
Palpitations

Additional Information

Some heart irregularities may be made worse by giving blood. This includes a risk that donation could trigger a recurrence in someone with a history of a previous arrhythmia. In cases where the donor’s eligibility is not clear, DCSO referral ensures further information can be sought regarding their condition.

Reason for change

Discretionary criteria revised.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue, please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 72