A BIOCHEMICAL-STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE UPON BLOOD-CELLS BY 4 DIFFERENT LEUKOCYTE-REMOVAL FILTERS

Transfusion may cause immunization. By leukocyte filtration the cells are trapped into the filter which in part is due to activation. We com pared the extent of blood corpuscle damage and complement activation a fter filtration through four different leukocyte-removal filters (Eryp ur b, Leucostop, PALL RC 100, Sepacell R-500 A). Twelve persons each d onated 450 ml of whole blood. Serum (plasma hemoglobin, granulocyte el astase, beta-thromboglobulin, C3d) and blood components were measured pre- and postfiltration. Plasma hemoglobin was significantly increased by Leucostop and Sepacell. Granulocyte elastase and C3d was not alter ed postfiltration. Beta-Thromboglobulin was reduced by PALL and Sepace ll. The filters influence the blood corpuscles in different ways, but none of them caused extensive signs of damage of the filtered cells or complement activation.