Effect of blood donations on the profile of lymphocytic cells.

The effect of ordinary blood donation and repeat leukapheresis procedures on the profile of lymphocytic cells in peripheral blood was assessed. In ordinary blood donors blood donation was found to have no effect on serum Ig levels and peripheral lymphocyte populations. The removal of leukocytes and serum Ig during leukapheresis lead to a significant decrease of serum IgG and IgM and of all lymphocytic cell parameters, O cells being the only exception. During a series of 5 consecutive cytaphereses serum Ig always reached prepheresis levels within a week. With the increasing number of leukaphereses, however, lymphocytic cells, except O cells, showed a steady decrease which was significant for B cells bearing surface IgA, G, M or lambda chains. Even 2 months after the last leukapheresis mononuclear cell numbers had not returned to first prepheresis levels. a limitation of leukapheresis procedures per annum is recommended.