Granulocyte Kinetics in Donors Undergoing Filtration Leukapheresis

Abstract

Normal blood donors undergoing filtration leukapheresis (FL) have a profound transient neutropenia early in the procedure which is followed by a rebound neutrophilia. This phenomenon occurs in unstimulated donors as well as in donors pretreated with either prednisone or dexamethasone. The mechanism for development of the neutropenia was investigated in volunteers not undergoing FL. When autologous heparinized plasma was infused into volunteers through a nylon filter at 37.degree. C, a significant but transient neutropenia was observed. Plasma rendered cell and stroma-free achieved the same result indicating that plasma alone, when exposed to nylon fibers, is capable of producing neutropenia.