Leukocyte filtration does not affect lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function in recipients of blood transfusions.
OBJECTIVE
The possible immunosuppressive action of blood transfusion has aroused great interest recently, particularly with respect to its effects on tumor growth and recurrence rate of malignant disease.


METHODS
The effect of blood transfusion on lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively was studied in 129 patients treated with elective surgery for colorectal malignancy. Forty-two patients (33%) received blood transfusions, 21 of them randomly allocated to receive leukocyte-depleted blood products. Investigation was by means of conventional laboratory methods.


RESULTS
In 21 patients receiving a median of 3 units of non-leukocyte-depleted blood products (NLD), a significant reduction in CD4+ lymphocytes (44% vs. 40%, p < 0.01) occurred. In contrast, no significant changes in CD4+ lymphocytes were observed in the 21 patients transfused with leukocyte-depleted blood products (LD). However, with respect to lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function, differences between the NLD and LD groups were not significant. There was a marginal decrease in HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in the NLD patients without a history of previous transfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be no major change in lymphocyte subpopulations and NK cell function 6 months after blood transfusion. Thus we cannot confirm our previous findings of a reduced number of CD20+ cells after blood transfusion.
Mathiesen
O
O
Regional Center of Blood Transfusion and Clinical Immunology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
Lund
L
L
Brodthagen
U
U
Gandrup
P
P
Grunnet
N
N
Balslev
I
I
Jersild
C
C
D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D017452:Receptors, IgG