In vitro study of immunologic changes in long‐term cytapheresis donors

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Abstract
Several in vitro measurements of immune function were examined retrospectively in a population of active long‐term cytapheresis donors (group I; n = 50) and the results were compared to age‐ and sex‐matched controls (group II; n = 50) who had donated only whole blood. In group I, significantly different mean absolute lymphocyte counts (P = .0025), total T‐cells (P = .0026) and T‐helper cells (P < .0001), and helper‐to‐suppressor ratios (P = .0279) were present. No differences were noted between the two groups for peripheral blood mean B‐cell count, T‐suppressor numbers, lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens or alloantigen, and serum immunoglobulin level. The reduced mean absolute lymphocyte count in group I was due to the reduction in T‐helper cell numbers and accounted for the imbalance in the helper‐to‐suppressor ratio. These disturbances are currently unexplained and, while no clinical consequences have so far become evident, there is a need to continuously monitor the immunologic status of cytapheresis donors. It is also important to determine whether reversal of the defects occurs and, if so, over what time interval.