Nick Pascuzzi

Nick Pascuzzi has four simple words to say to blood donors — "Just keep it up." Diagnosed in late 2002 with a rare condition called hypogammaglobulinemia, a type of primary immune deficiency, Nick requires weekly infusions of antibodies that are found in plasma, the liquid portion of blood. Hypogammaglobulinemia is caused by a lack of β-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell), a condition that results in a low level of antibodies (called immunoglobulins or Ig) in the blood. Immunoglobulins help the body recognize invaders (such as bacteria or viruses) and trigger an immune response that eliminates them.

Before he was diagnosed, Nick's antibodies weren't able to fight even simple infections. As a result, Nick had a history of sinus and upper respiratory infections that often left him too ill and too fatigued to go to school. After the diagnosis at Mayo during Christmas of 2002, Nick's doctor at Mayo suggested that he stay home for three months to avoid contracting any new infections and to monitor his condition.

Things started to turn around after Nick came to Mayo Clinic and his immunologist developed a treatment plan. Nick now gives himself one infusion per week of Ig beneath the skin of his abdomen to help him fight infections.

Just how effective has this treatment been for Nick? It took Nick's body awhile to develop a tolerance to the infusions and minimize their side effects. Nick developed serum sickness following the first two Ig infusions, which were infused directly into his veins. To prevent this problem from recurring, Nick's immunologist had him infuse the treatment subcutaneously, or under the skin of his abdomen.

The results have been remarkable. This year, if you want to ask Nick what activities he's involved in, you better take a seat. A high school senior now, he plays trumpet in Duluth Central High's concert and jazz bands as well as concert orchestra, and in the Duluth-Superior youth symphony. Outside of schoolwork and music, Nick is also the publicist for his high school Key Club, and he's been doing some public speaking for Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) to encourage people to donate blood. He helps with MBC's high school workshop for student blood drive coordinators and speaks at schools across the state to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. He is a Wish Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, and is a member of the National Honors Society. Nick has attended a 4-week-long intensive Italian language camp in Bemidji for two summers and has been offered a position on staff at the language village in the summer following his senior year. And, on top of all that, Nick has begun looking at colleges. He feels great now, and all because of the blood product he receives.

And there is more good news. Nick is currently doing a trial period off of the medicine, to determine if he can live actively without it, and thus far, the results have been positive.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Winters, medical director for Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center, it takes thousands of units of plasma to produce the vials of Ig that people like Nick need to live a more normal life. Most of the plasma used to make the Ig injections is gathered from plasma donations. A smaller portion is separated out from whole blood donations. During plasma donation, the liquid portion of the blood (plasma) is collected and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. The whole process takes a little longer than whole blood donation, but plasma donors can relax and help pass the time by watching one of the Donor Center's many movies. And, of course, it helps to remember why these donations are so important.

"You can't describe the influence that one pint of blood has — it reaches way beyond what most of us imagine," says Nick.