[Leukocyte filtration in elective colorectal surgery. Reduced transfusion associated immunosuppression after bedside procedures].

The objective of the study was to investigate certain immune parameters in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery and receiving either whole blood transfusion or leucocyte-filtrated blood. Sixty consecutive patients were randomly allocated to receive either whole blood transfusion or leucocyte-filtrated blood leucocyte when transfusion was indicated. The immune parameters were investigated on the day of surgery and on day 3, 7 and 30 postoperatively. Transfusion with whole blood was followed by a significant decrease in lymphocyte proliferation and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p < 0.01) as well as a significant increase in soluble interleukin-2 receptor and interleukin-6 (p < 0.01). Furthermore transfusion with whole blood was accompanied by a significant increase in postoperative infectious complications (p < 0.01). Patients transfused with leucocyte-filtrated blood had only minor and passing changes in the immune parameters and developed no infectious complications, indicating that effective leucocyte filtration abolishes transfusion-associated immunosuppression.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes