Normal bone marrow as a source of granulocytes for transfusion.

A method for obtaining granulocytes for transfusion by direct aspiration of bone marrow from normal donors is described. The bone marrow is the major storage reserve for granulocytes with as many as 60 times more granulocytes than in the peripheral blood. With current methods of leukapheresis from peripheral blood, steroids, hydroxyethyl starch, and anticoagulants are given to the donor and his processed blood is returned. Bone marrow aspiration spares the donor such treatment. In addition, no costly machine is necessary and the whole procedure takes less than 2 hours. Due to minimum manipulation, cell viability is not impaired. Furthermore, some committed granulocyte stem cells, as well as nonmature granulocytes, are transfused. These cells have the potential to mature to efficient phagocytes in the patient's circulation.