Granulocyte enriched buffy coat transfusions in neutropenic patients

Twenty four courses of granulocyte enriched buffy coat transfusions were administered to 22 different infected neutropenic patients. Those patients who received an average of greater than or equal to 13 units per transfusion, which represented a mean of 1.02 X 10(10) granulocytes, had a survival rate of only 30% which was not significantly different from the 28.5% found among patients who received an average of less than or equal to 12 units per transfusion, which represented a mean of .63 X 10(10) granulocytes. In addition, no significant difference in survival rate was found between patients who received a course of greater than or equal to four transfusions and those who received a course of less than or equal to three transfusions. Finally, no significant difference in survival rate was found between patients with acute leukemia and those with other disorders or between patients with positive cultures and those whose cultures were negative. Given the poor clinical results associated with buffy coat transfusions, it is concluded that every effort should be made to recruit single leukapheresis donors for the support of infected neutropenic patients, rather than use granulocyte enriched buffy coats as they are presently produced.