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# Central nervous system (CNS) disease - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Excludes

  Cerebrovascular disease and all forms of intracranial haemorrhage.

Obligatory

  Must not donate if has or has had:

  1. Dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease).
  2. A history of CNS disease of unknown aetiology or suspected infective origin. These include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative conditions, multiple sclerosis (MS), optic neuritis, clinically isolated syndrome, and transverse myelitis.
  3. Malignant tumour.
  4. Parkinson's disease.
Discretionary
  1. Individuals who have had Bell's palsy more than 4 weeks ago and have discontinued any treatment for the condition for at least 7 days, once investigated and discharged from specialist follow-up even if they have residual paralysis, accept.
  2. If the donor has been investigated and a definite diagnosis of transient global amnesia has been made, accept.
  3. If diagnosed with idiopathic (benign) intracranial hypertension (IIH) and
     1. The donor is aymptomatic, and
     2. If the donor is taking diuretics (e.g. acetazolamide) for IIH and the dose has not changed in the last 4 weeks, accept.
  4. If diagnosed with restless legs syndrome, and
     1. Any underlying cause does not preclude donation, and
     2. The donor does not have significant side effects from medication, if used, accept.

## Supporting information

See if relevant
  - Cardiovascular disease
  - Cerebrovascular disease and intracranial haemorrhage
  - Epilepsy
  - Infection, general
  - Neurosurgery
  - Pituitary disorders
  - Prion-associated diseases
  - Steroid therapy
  - Urinary catheterisation
Additional information

  Donor safety:

  Transient global amnesia is a temporary and isolated disorder of memory. Affected individuals are usually over 50 years of age and there is an association with migraine. There is no association with cerebrovascular disease.

  Idiopathic or benign intracranial hypertension is a raised intracranial pressure where no mass or other disease is present.

  Restless legs syndrome is a common condition characterised by an irresistible urge to move the legs or arms, sometimes associated with abnormal sensations and jerking movements of the limbs. In the majority of cases, there is no obvious cause but it can be associated with iron deficiency or kidney failure. If required, restless legs syndrome can be treated with dopamine-receptor agonist drugs such as ropinirole, pramipexole or rotigotine. Donors taking these medications for treatment of restless legs syndrome can be accepted, provided they do not have significant side effects such as hypotension or impulse control disorders.

  Recipient safety:

  It is thought that degenerative brain disease in the form of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) has been transmitted by blood transfusion. Often the exact cause of a degenerative brain condition only becomes known after death. For this reason, when there is any doubt as to the underlying cause of a brain condition, it is considered safest not to accept a donation.

Reason for change:
  Addition of guidance for donors with restless legs syndrome, including information regarding dopamine-receptor agonist drugs.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 78 (28 August 2025)

BETA

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