[Side effects of homologous transfusion]

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Immunology

Background:

• The complete elimination of infectious agent transmission via homologous blood transfusions remains a challenge.
• Previous assessments of posttransfusion-hepatitis (PTH) type B prevalence may have been overestimated.
• The frequency of transfusion-related Non-A Non-B hepatitis is uncertain due to a lack of specific diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through blood transfusions.
• To assess the impact of blood transfusions on the immune defense mechanisms of cancer patients.
• To differentiate the immunosuppressive effects of various blood components.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current data on transfusion-transmitted infections.
• Review of serological diagnostic techniques for hepatitis types.
• Assessment of HIV transmission rates using epidemiological data and improved analytical methods.

Main Results:

• The incidence of HIV transmission via blood transfusion is estimated between 1:10^6 and 1:3x10^6.
• Improved analytical methods support the reasonableness of these HIV transmission rates.
• Further investigation is required to understand the differential immunosuppressive effects of blood components on tumor patients.

Conclusions:

• Current analytical methods provide reasonable estimates for HIV transmission risk through blood transfusion.
• The actual frequency of transfusion-related Non-A Non-B hepatitis may be lower than previously thought.
• More research is needed to clarify the influence of transfusions on tumor patients' immune status.