Effects of blood transfusion on cellular immunity

To evaluate the effect of transfusion on immunity, 14 uraemic patients treated with 3 blood transfusions from a single donor, at weekly intervals, were studied: in 5 cases HLA-A,B were compatible, in 9 cases they were not. As markers of cellular and humoral immunity DNCB, PPD skin tests, spontaneous and active E-rosettes, EAC-rosettes, surface membrane immunoglobulins, C3, C4, C3d, serum immunoglobulins, circulating immune complexes and C-reactive protein were investigated. This protocol was applied before transfusions, 1 week after each transfusion (day +7, +14, +21) and 20 weeks later (day +80). Before transfusions 8/14 patients were DNCB negative; both spontaneous and active E-rosettes were below normal range. The other parameters were normal. On day +7 T and B lymphocytes were increased, while the other parameters were unmodified. On day +21 there was a significant reduction (p less than 0.5) in T lymphocytes in patients treated with compatible transfusions. On day +80 3/3 DNCB positive patients, treated with compatible transfusions, became negative and 1/3 DNCB positive patients, treated with random transfusions, also became negative. Three/fourteen patients showed a decrease in B lymphocytes. The other results were unchanged. Our preliminary results suggest that transfusions, either from an HLA compatible donor or not, can impair lymphocyte function.