Effect of blood transfusion on survival after radiotherapy as treatment for carcinoma of the prostate.

Over a 14-year period, 71 patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate with high dose radiotherapy. Eighteen patients required perioperative transfusion. The 5-year survival in the non-transfused group was 66% and in the transfused group 17% (P less than 0.001; chi 2 = 11.57). Recurrence of tumour in the transfused group was 72% compared with 21% in the non-transfused group (P less than 0.01; chi 2 = 9.1). When Cox's models and regression analysis were used, the disease state being controlled for grade and stage, only blood transfusion was seen to influence outcome. We conclude that careful thought should be given before transfusing patients undergoing transurethral surgery for prostatic carcinoma.