title: Simple and rapid preparation of granulocytes for the treatment of neonatal septicemia.
abstract: Recent reports have documented benefit from the infusion of granulocytes into septic neonatal patients. However, while the requirement of 1 X 10(9) per kg of granulocytes is easily met by apheresis procedures, treatment of neonatal septicemia requires immediate response 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, this rapid response is beyond the capability of most apheresis units. Therefore, we developed a method for obtaining granulocytes from whole blood collected by routine blood donation. Hydroxyethyl starch (60 ml of a 6% solution) is introduced into a unit of whole blood within 24 hours of collection. Following sedimentation and subsequent centrifugation, a buffy coat is obtained which contains more than 75 percent of the granulocytes; an average of 1.62 X 10(9) WBC, of which 1.25 X 10(9) were granulocytes that were recovered in an average 17-ml final volume with a hematocrit of 4 percent. Granulocyte morphology and function as measured by chemiluminescence indicated good maintenance of function. Total processing time was short, requiring less than 2 hours, and the procedure was performed easily in a routine blood bank. The recovery of 1.25 X 10(9) granulocytes from a single, routine blood donation without steroid treatment of the donor makes this product ideal for use in the treatment of neonatal septicemia.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000628:therapy*