In vitro and in vivo studies on filter collected granulocytes

The in vitro function of granulocytes collected by filtration leukapheresis after premedication of donors with dexamethasone was found to be normal. In vivo studies were performed in a 21-year-old woman who was transplanted with allogeneic bone marrow for severe aplastic anaemia. The patient received granulocyte transfusions for treatment of septicaemia during the transplantation period. On 11 consecutive days an average dose of 7.2 X 10(10) granulocytes/transplantation, the patient died from cardiac failure. Transfused granulocytes were found ante mortem in a pericardial effusion and post mortem in lungs, kidneys, liver and spleen. The data indicate that filter collected granulocytes function normally in the recipient and are clinically effective.