IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFECTS OF ALLOGENEIC BLOOD-TRANSFUSIONS - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PATIENT WITH A MALIGNANCY

Allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT) are associated with immunomodulatory effects to the recipients. Perioperative ABT thus may adversely affect overall prognosis in patients with a malignancy. ABT have been shown to be associated also with an increased risk for bacterial infections. In animal models, the ABT tumor growth-promoting effect has been shown to be related to leukocytes and is ameliorated by leukodepletion. In humans, such an effect has been reported; however, clearcut clinical evidence for the tumor growth-promoting effect of ABT has not yet been proved.