Table 1.

Allogeneic blood transfusion-associated immune function alterations in the transfusion recipient.

• Decreased total lymphocyte count

• Decreased CD4 cell count

• Decreased NK cell count

• Decreased CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio

• Decreased NK cell function

• Decreased lymphocyte response to mitogens

• Decreased macrophage phagocytosis

• Decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity

• Increase in T-cell suppressor activity

• B-cell activation

• Th2 cytokine response

• Release of immunosuppressive prostaglandins

• Suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis

• Hypergammaglobulinemia

• Increased production of anti-idiotypic and anti-clonotypic antibodies