Premium
Immune responsiveness in orthopedic surgery patients after transfusion of autologous or allogeneic blood
Author(s) -
Tietze M.,
Klüter H.,
Troch M.,
Kirchner H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1995.35595259146.x
Subject(s) - medicine , buffy coat , immune system , cytokine , immunology , interleukin , interferon , tumor necrosis factor alpha , interleukin 2 , cd8 , interferon gamma , alpha interferon , blood transfusion
BACKGROUND: The proposed immunosuppressive effect of blood transfusion is not yet understood, and the clinical relevance is a controversial topic of discussion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The effect of blood transfusions on the capacity of the host's immunocompetent cells to react to mitogenic stimulation was evaluated. Patients undergoing hip replacement surgery received either allogeneic (n = 13) or autologous (n = 14) buffy coat‐depleted red cells or plasma. Patients' blood samples taken before and on Days 1 and 5 after surgery were stimulated in a whole‐blood assay. The release of interleukin 2, soluble interleukin 2 receptor, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon alpha 2, and interferon gamma was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the white cell counts and frequencies of the lymphocyte subsets CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells were analyzed. RESULTS: For both groups, decreased levels of interleukin 2 and interferon‐gamma were detected postoperatively, whereas the values for soluble interleukin 2 receptor and tumor necrosis factor alpha showed no significant change. Interferon alpha 2 was decreased on Day 1, but returned to normal by Day 5. Interleukin 6 increased during the time of observation. There were no significant differences between the two groups in cytokine production and lymphocyte‐subset analysis that could be attributed to the transfusion of allogeneic blood. CONCLUSION: The transfusion of buffy coat‐depleted red cells showed no immediate suppressive effect on the immune function of the host's peripheral blood cells.