The overall purpose of this study is to determine if there are immune sequelae related to the long-term donation of blood or blood products. Detailed studies of possible immune alterations due to donations are critical in determining safety for donors. The proposed study will investigate many aspects of the immune response which have not been studied in these donors to determine if any alterations occur in long- term donors or develop over time in new donors. The first objective of this study is to investigate changes in immune function which may occur as a result of blood, plasma, or platelet donations. Our preliminary studies have shown evidence of alterations in immune parameters in normal apheresis donors with the most marked changes occurring in long-term plasmapheresis donors. To ascertain whether donation of blood or blood products alters specific immune parameters, we will study WBC receptors known to be involved in normal host defense mechanisms, lymphocyte subpopulations, plasma proteins, and complement activation products from 30 individuals in each of 4 separate donor groups: whole blood donors, bulk plasma donors, plasma donors stimulated with incompatible RBC, and platelet donors. Donor immune data will be compared with results in nondonor controls will also be correlated with demographic data, donation history, laboratory data, and clinical findings. The second objective of this study is to determine if changes in an individual donor's immune status occur over time. A longitudinal study of 15 new donors in each donation group will be performed to evaluate alterations in immune function that may occur in committed donors of blood products and whether there is any clinical significance to the findings. New donors will be enrolled in donation groups and followed longitudinally for a period of up to 2 years.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL045642-01A1
Application #
3364727
Study Section
Nursing Research Study Section (NURS)
Project Start
1992-02-01
Project End
1996-01-31
Budget Start
1992-02-01
Budget End
1993-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of New Mexico
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
829868723
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87131
Kutvirt, S G; Armon, M E; Simon, T L et al. (1996) Lymphocyte phenotypes and infection incidence in transfused preterm neonates. Transfus Med 6:329-36
Lewis, S L; Kutvirt, S G; Bonner, P N et al. (1994) Plasma proteins and lymphocyte phenotypes in long-term plasma donors. Transfusion 34:578-85
Kutvirt, S G; Lewis, S L; Simon, T L (1993) Lymphocyte phenotypes in infants are altered by separation of blood on density gradients. Br J Biomed Sci 50:321-8