Granulocyte Transfusion in Septic Canine Neonates

Abstract

Newborn dogs were inoculated intratracheally with 0.5-1.0 x 108 Staphylococcus aureus/g body weight. Neutropenia (490 .+-. 280 neutrophils/mm3 vs. 8390 .+-. 490 control, .hivin.x .+-. SE, P < 0.001), and depletion of the marrow neutrophil storage pool (3 .+-. 1% vs. 27 .+-. 2% storage neutrophils, P < 0.001) occurred 5-6 h following the inoculation. All animals died at 6-10 h. Additional inoculated pups were selected at random to receive transfusions of either granulocytes, plasma or red blood cells. Granulocyte transfusions (3 .times. 109 neutrophils/kg) improved survival (P < 0.005), but plasma and red blood cells did not. Thus, granulocyte transfusion may present a useful therapeutic modality in those septic neonates who are found to have neutropenia and a depleted neutrophil supply.