Abstract

Though the use of appropriate antibiotics in granulocytopenic patients, the mortality from infection is high. Therefore, an analysis of the clinical effects of leukocyte transfusions was made on granulocytopenic patients at Yonsei University Medical Center from September 1980 to October 1981. Following results were obtained; 1) As a result of 113 leukapheresis on 100 donors, they showed 7% decrease of Hot by alternative bag method and 6.4% by simple bag method. There was no significant difference between these two methods(p>0.1). In both methods, they showed a considerable increase of WBC counts after leukapheresis. 2) Out of 120 times of leukapheresis on 105 donors, there developed a transient paresthesia and chill on 19 occasions(15.8%) as the major complications, but no further serious problems were observed. As to these complications, there was no significant difference between forementioned two methods(p>0.05). 3) In alternative bag method, 1.374×10 Leukocytes were yielded, among which 70.3% were granulocytes. In simple bag method, 0.957×10 leukocytes were yielded, among which granulocytes were 55.3%. As to the granulocytes yields, the former method was definitely superior than the latter method((p<0.05). 4) The average body temperature of pre-transfusion in 29 patients was 38.1±1.0℃, which was reduced to 37.7±0.9℃ after the transfusion. The difference was statistically significant(p<0.01). The average circulating granulocyte counts of pre-transfusion was 215.8±257.3/㎕, which was elevated to 346.4±374.4/㎕ after 30 leukocyte transfusions in 17 patients. But the difference was statistically insignificant(p>0.05), an actual increments of circulating granulocyte was achieved in 19 occasions (63.3%). Throughout the experiment, 21 patients survived and 14 died. 5) Among the infectious organisms in granulocytopenic patients, the most common one was E. coli(6 cases), and the most common type of infection was septicemia(9 cases). 6) Following the transfusions, some of the patients developed alloimmunizations. Namely, out of 11 patients 5 were positive in lymphocytotoxicity test and the rest negative. Between these two group, there was no difference in clinical pictures.