Lymphocytotoxic Antibodies in Patients Receiving Granulocyte Transfusions¹

Abstract

The presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies was studied in 22 patients receiving granulocyte transfusions. Due to previous blood transfusions 7 out of 22 patients had lymphocytotoxic antibodies before granulocyte transfusions were started. 6 out of 15 unsensitized patients developed antibodies during granulocyte transfusion therapy, and 9 out of 15 patients had no detectable antibodies at any time. Transfusion reactions occurred in the presence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies not directed against donor cells.

WBC alloimmunization: effects on the laboratory and clinical endpoints of therapeutic granulocyte transfusions

“…From the 1 Department of Medicine, University of Washington; and 2 Bloodworks Northwest, Seattle, Washington; 3 Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of alloimmunization, but there has been inconsistency with regard to which WBC antibody tests predicted these effects. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Others could detect no adverse clinical effects of alloimmunizaion. 9 In some of these studies, Indium-111labeled normal granulocytes transfused to alloimmunized patients were retained in the lungs or were impaired in their ability to localize at sites of infection.…”

Limited Value of in vitro Techniques for the Detection of Leukocyte Alloantibodies during Granulocyte Transfusion Therapy

“…Non-haemolytic febrile transfusion reac tions are mainly caused by alloantibodies directed against donor leukocytes [3,6,13,17]. In the patient described here, alloimmu nization after 4 subsequent granulocyte transfusions was suggested first by transfu sion reactions and absence of post-transfu sion granulocyte increment and was later documented by serological methods.…”

“…In our opinion and according to the data in the literature [3,13,19], the indications of granulocyte transfusions should be carefully considered owing to the high risk of alloim munization.…”

“…The occurrence of non-haemolytic transfusion reactions along with the produc tion of alloantibodies directed against donor antigens remains, however, a problem in granulocyte transfusion therapy [3,6,13, Methods…”

Granulocyte transfusions in children

“…Most of our patients received a granulocyte dose corresponding approximately to the normal daily turnover rate. Two patients who did not show any benefit from transfusion therapy received only one transfusion each, Another unresponsive patient had polyspecific lymphocytotoxic antibodies which probably reacted against the transfused cells [3].…”