The Effect of Prior Whole Blood Transfusion on Subsequent Granulocyte Support in Leukopenic Dogs

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Abstract
The present studies were undertaken to evaluate the effect of prior transfusions on the response to subsequent granulocyte support in leukopenic dogs. Ten separate experiments were carried out. Each study included three dogs. One dog served as an unrelated granulocyte donor for two recipients rendered leukopenic (average: 373/μd) by a single I.V. dose of 40 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide. One recipient was transfused with 100 ml whole blood from the donor fourteen and seven days prior to cyclophosphamide administration. Granulocytes obtained by filtration leukapheresis were given on days five and six following cyclophosphamide. Granulocyte increments, per cent recovery one hour posttransfusion, presence of preformed cytotoxic antibodies, and survival time of the dogs were measured. Granulocyte transfusions averaged 5.4 times 108 cells per kg recipient body weight. Three of ten previously transfused recipients had positive cytotoxic crossmatches. Mean one‐hour increments for previously transfused dogs averaged 106/μl with 2.4 per cent recovery, versus 624/μl with 8.7 per cent recovery for controls (p < .01). Duration of survival for control animals was significantly increased over dogs with prior transfusions (p < .05). Gram‐negative sepsis occurred in five previously transfused dogs and in one of the control animals. Two prior blood transfusions effectively sensitized recipients against subsequent granulocyte support. In most instances such sensitization was not detectable by cytotoxic crossmatching. Sensitization was associated with shortened survival and an increased incidence of sepsis.