Implications of perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion on the immune-inflammatory response.

Background: The allogeneic transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) may be responsible for an increase in survival of renal transplants but in contrast it could increase the rate of bacterial infections or the recurrence rate of tumors post-operatively.

Objective: This review focuses in the implications of perioperative allogeneic transfusions on the immune-inflammatory response of surgical transfused patients.

Results: ABTs modify immune functions in recipients including decrease of the number of lymphocytes; decrease the CD4 cells; decrease the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio; decrease NK cells; and decrease the lymphocyte response to mitogens.