Raisa Balbuena-Merle, MD, MHS
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Cards
Appointments
Laboratory Medicine
Primary
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor
Appointments
Laboratory Medicine
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Apheresis/Transfusion Service
- Blood Bank
- Laboratory Medicine
- Laboratory Medicine - Education
- Orange College Affiliates
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- MHS
- Yale University, Immunohematology (2019)
- Transfusion Medicine Fellow
- Yale University (2019)
- Hematopathology Fellow
- Yale University (2017)
- Pathology Resident AP/CP
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (2016)
- MD
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (2012)
Board Certifications
Hematology (Pathology)
- Certification Organization
- AB of Pathology
- Original Certification Date
- 2017
Anatomic & Clinical Pathology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Pathology
- Original Certification Date
- 2016
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Raisa Balbuena-Merle's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Raisa Balbuena-Merle's research output by year.
Alexa Siddon, MD
Jeanne Hendrickson, MD
John D Roberts, MD
Ronald George Hauser III, MD
Andrew Loza, MD, PhD
Christopher Tormey, MD
17Publications
116Citations
Publications
2023
Uncovering Primary Extranodal Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in the Adrenal and Thyroid Glands
Li J, Balbuena-Merle R, Hrones M, Gibson C. Uncovering Primary Extranodal Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in the Adrenal and Thyroid Glands. American Journal Of Case Reports 2023, 25: e942659. PMID: 38287660, PMCID: PMC10838563, DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.942659.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPROSER: A Web-Based Peripheral Blood Smear Interpretation Support Tool Utilizing Electronic Health Record Data
Iscoe M, Loza A, Turbiville D, Campbell S, Peaper D, Balbuena-Merle R, Hauser R. PROSER: A Web-Based Peripheral Blood Smear Interpretation Support Tool Utilizing Electronic Health Record Data. American Journal Of Clinical Pathology 2023, 160: 98-105. PMID: 37026746, DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsQuality improvement studyElectronic health recordsLaboratory valuesWeb-based clinical decision support toolClinical decision support toolElectronic health record dataHealth record dataImprovement studyResident trainingBlood smear interpretationClinical outcomesMorphologic findingsAcademic hospitalCorresponding reference rangesMedication informationReference rangeMicroscopy findingsCDS toolsIntervention effectsPathology practiceSmear interpretationHealth recordsRecord dataPathologistsPatients
2021
Potential Implications of a Type 1 Interferon Gene Signature on COVID-19 Severity and Chronic Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease
Madany E, Okwan-Duodu D, Balbuena-Merle R, Hendrickson JE, Gibb DR. Potential Implications of a Type 1 Interferon Gene Signature on COVID-19 Severity and Chronic Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease. Frontiers In Medicine 2021, 8: 679030. PMID: 34368185, PMCID: PMC8339405, DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.679030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSickle cell diseaseCOVID-19 severityIFNα/βType 1 interferonCell diseaseSARS-CoV-2 infectionType 1 interferon responseCorona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemicCohort of patientsMajority of patientsInterferon gene signatureIFNα/β productionRace-matched controlsDisease-19 pandemicCOVID-19Express elevated levelsMajority of evidenceSCD diseaseSevere sequelaeChronic inflammationFavorable outcomeVariable progressionClinical consequencesGeneral populationPatients
2020
Monocytic Acute Myeloid Leukemias with KM2TA Translocations to Chromosome 17q that May Clinically Mimic Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
Balbuena-Merle RI, Tormey CA, DiAdamo A, Rinder HM, Siddon AJ. Monocytic Acute Myeloid Leukemias with KM2TA Translocations to Chromosome 17q that May Clinically Mimic Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Lab Medicine 2020, 52: 290-296. PMID: 32984885, DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmaa078.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAcute promyelocytic leukemiaAcute myeloid leukemiaMyeloid leukemiaPromyelocytic leukemiaMonocytic acute myeloid leukemiaTrans retinoic acidClinical presentationPrognostic implicationsPrognostic significanceLaboratory pictureCorrect diagnosisDistinct chemotherapyLeukemiaLeukemic entitiesRetinoic acidGene translocationMonocytic differentiationChromosome 17qTranslocationChemotherapyDiagnosisImmunohematologic aspects of alloimmunization and alloantibody detection: A focus on pregnancy and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn
Gupta GK, Balbuena-Merle R, Hendrickson JE, Tormey CA. Immunohematologic aspects of alloimmunization and alloantibody detection: A focus on pregnancy and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Transfusion And Apheresis Science 2020, 59: 102946. PMID: 32962917, DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102946.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRed blood cellsHemolytic diseaseCurrent pathophysiologic mechanismsSetting of pregnancyPeri-partum periodPregnant patientsRBC alloantibodiesPathophysiologic mechanismsTransfusion practiceAlloantibody detectionTransfusion therapyClinical impactAlloimmunizationTransfusion communityBlood bankPregnancyDeadliest formBlood cellsAlloantibodiesFetusesDiseaseLaboratory toolPatientsTherapySettingCharacterization of circulating and cultured Tfh-like cells in sickle cell disease in relation to red blood cell alloimmunization status
Balbuena-Merle R, Santhanakrishnan M, Devine L, Gibb DR, Tormey CA, Siddon AJ, Curtis SA, Gallagher PG, Weinstein JS, Hendrickson JE. Characterization of circulating and cultured Tfh-like cells in sickle cell disease in relation to red blood cell alloimmunization status. Transfusion And Apheresis Science 2020, 59: 102778. PMID: 32439490, PMCID: PMC7483805, DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102778.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTfh-like cellsNaïve CD4 T cellsSickle cell diseaseCD4 T cellsCD4 T cell subsetsT cell subsetsT cellsCell diseaseRed blood cell alloimmunizationPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsBlood mononuclear cellsCD3/CD28Electronic medical recordsAlloimmunization statusHLA alloantibodiesRBC autoantibodiesRBC alloantibodiesFollicular helperIL-12Mononuclear cellsMedical recordsIL-7Antigen specificityB cellsAlloantibodiesPassive anti‐C acquired in the setting of Rh immune globulin administration following Rh mismatched apheresis platelet transfusion: A case series
Sostin N, Ross R, Balbuena‐Merle R, Hendrickson JE, Tormey CA. Passive anti‐C acquired in the setting of Rh immune globulin administration following Rh mismatched apheresis platelet transfusion: A case series. Journal Of Clinical Apheresis 2020, 35: 224-226. PMID: 32110829, DOI: 10.1002/jca.21773.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPlatelet transfusionsRh immune globulin administrationRisk/benefit ratioApheresis platelet transfusionImmune globulin administrationRhIG immunoprophylaxisImmune globulinTransfusion supportAlloantibody formationCase seriesNegative recipientsAlloimmunization riskRhIG administrationReproductive agePassive transferPLT transfusionsTransfusionBlood bankBenefit ratioRhIGApheresis PLTsAdministrationImmunoprophylaxisPatientsSettingThe evanescence and persistence of RBC alloantibodies in blood donors
Hauser RG, Esserman D, Karafin MS, Tan S, Balbuena‐Merle R, Spencer BR, Roubinian NH, Wu Y, Triulzi DJ, Kleinman S, Gottschall JL, Hendrickson JE, Tormey CA, ). The evanescence and persistence of RBC alloantibodies in blood donors. Transfusion 2020, 60: 831-839. PMID: 32061102, DOI: 10.1111/trf.15718.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBlood donorsAntibody persistenceAntibody screenDonor Evaluation Study-IIIHistory of transfusionUS blood centersFit inclusion criteriaPresence of alloantibodiesRecipient EpidemiologyRBC alloantibodiesBlood productsInclusion criteriaSignificant antibodiesBiologic factorsHealthy populationAntibody detectionAntibody identificationAlloantibodiesBlood centersMultiple antibodiesFirst donationAntibody specificityStudy IIIAntibodiesCenter policies
2019
The Presence and Persistence of Pregnancy-Associated Red Blood Cell Alloantibodies in Blood Donors
Balbuena-Merle R, Hauser R, Karafin M, Tan S, Spencer B, Roubinian N, Wu Y, Triulzi D, Kleinman S, Gottschall J, Tormey C, Hendrickson J. The Presence and Persistence of Pregnancy-Associated Red Blood Cell Alloantibodies in Blood Donors. Blood 2019, 134: 2452. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2019-121388.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRBC alloantibodiesTransfusion historyBlood donorsBlood donor databasePregnant femalesPersistent antibodiesPrior transfusionsPrior pregnancyAntibody screenMean durationPregnancy historyFemale healthy blood donorsRed blood cell alloantibodiesDonor databaseMean timeAntibody screen resultsHealthy blood donorsUS blood centersSubsequent donationsMajority of donorsSubsequent blood donationsAlloantibody specificitiesRBC alloimmunizationCell microchimerismAntigen exposureRed Blood Cell Alloimmunization in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Population of Puerto Rico: An Observational Study
Balbuena-Merle RI, Nazario-Delgado CM, Rosario-Rosado RV, Millán-Tapia D, Climent-Peris C. Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Population of Puerto Rico: An Observational Study. Annals Of Laboratory Medicine 2019, 40: 187-189. PMID: 31650739, PMCID: PMC6822008, DOI: 10.3343/alm.2020.40.2.187.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and Concepts
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
honor Jatlow Award
Yale School of Medicine AwardDepartment of Laboratory MedicineDetails06/21/2019United States