The treatment of infections in granulocytopenic patients with granulocyte transfusions.

Twenty-three severely neutropenic patients were given 31 courses of ABO and HL-A compatible granulocyte-rich plasma transfusions between 1974--76 at the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion. The criteria for the effectiveness of therapy were disappearance of fever and survival for over 3 weeks after granulocyte transfusion. Of the 28 evaluated cases granulocyte transfusions were effective in 16 and ineffective in 12 cases. The effectiveness of granulocyte transfusion was favourably influenced by early introduction of therapy, and continuation for several days.