Addison's: Blood donation, organ donation and bone marrow donation

Can we donate or not?

It turns out that there's a good reason we might not know if we can donate blood, organs or bone marrow in the United States. The answer is not clear cut. In the case of blood, it depends where you live and what organization you go through. In any case, if you're alive and donating blood, organs or marrow, you need to be feeling good. Being on hydrocortisone, florinef or thyroid meds does not necessarily preclude you from being a blood donor.

Blood

Ultimately, the decision whether or not to accept an Addisonian's blood is a decision of the regional medical director of a particular organization. Each regional medical director determines eligibility of a particular condition AND criteria change constantly. Donors can also be allowed or deferred on a case by case basis by the regional medical director. As an Addisonian, you may be able to donate blood in Idaho but not in New York. You may be able to give blood this year but not next. What it comes down to is that if you're interested in giving blood, find out if you meet your region's eligibility standards and talk to the regional medical director.

Examples of blood donation eligibility and deferrment

According to the Idaho Red Cross, people such as myself with Addison's and hypothyroid and in good health are permitted to donate blood.

Hi Dusty,

Yes you are eligible to donate with all medicines and diseases considered. Autoimmune disease doesn’t disqualify you if you aren’t in a flare up. We don’t recommend donating at that time for your health. Thanks for your inquiry!

Barbara Shapel

Donor Counselor II

Boise, ID

208-429-5905

800-737-0902

Fax 208-344-4353

ShapelBa@usa.redcross.org

However, the New York Blood Center will NOT allow persons with Addison's disease to donate. They have a very comprehensive list of excluded medical conditions.

Bone Marrow

Bone marrow seems to be a more cut and dry situation. I contacted the National Marrow Donor Program and here was their response to me:

Dear Dusty,

Thank you for your interest in the National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP). According to the NMDP medical conditions chart, an individual who has Addison's Disease would be not accepted as a donor or allowed to remain on the Registry due to donor risk. Medical deferrals of donors are made for the protection of the donor and the patient.

If you have any further questions, please contact us by e-mail or toll-free at 1 (800) 654-1247.

Sincerely,

National Marrow Donor Program

No, Addisonian's can not donate bone marrow.

Organ Donation

Organ donation can be one of two things: live donation or deceased donation. I searched many websites and they make it sound like anyone can donate with few exceptions. I put a call into the University of Utah Medical Center's Ann Hansen. When I asked her if Addisonian's can donate live or deceased organs she said, "I'll have to talk to the nephrologist and get back to you." I believe that because Addison's disease is uncommon, has only recently (within the last 50 years) been treated and because we're supposed to have a normal life expectancy there have been very few inquiries with regard to desceased donation of organs. When I get a definitive regional answer, I will post with the response.

1:30 PM Ann from the University of Utah returned my call. At the University of Utah Medical Center's transplant facility:

• Addisonian's CAN donate organs after death. If you're interested, fill out a donor card, sign the organ donor space on the back of your driver's license and let your desire to be a donor be known by your family members. Get started today if you're interested.
• Addisonian's MAY be able to donate live organs BUT an extensive questionnaire must be filled out, more information about your particular circumstance is necessary to determine the safety of the organ donation.

According to the Canadian Addison's Society, Canadians may donate organs. See this PDF, top of Page 17.

Summary

If you're serious about donating blood or organs, talk to the medical person who runs the organization to which you would like to donate. As with anything to with Addison's disease, research, research, research. You may be surprised and find out that you can donate!

Resources

• Journal of the American Medical Association handout on Organ Donation
• To find your local Red Cross Chapter for blood donation