Effects of autologous and homologous blood transfusion on TNF-alpha levels and survival in an intraabdominal infection model

BACKGROUND Autologous blood transfusion is one of the approaches used for prevention of the undesirable immunomodulatory effects of homologous blood transfusion that can cause an increase in cancer recurrence and surgical site infections. On the other hand, the benefits of autologous blood transfusion in that respect are not yet clearly identified. In this experimental study, we investigated the differences in effects of autologous and homologous blood transfusion on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels and survival in an intraabdominal infection model in rats. METHODS A total of 92 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. Forty-four of those rats were divided into autologous and homologous transfusion groups, and intraabdominal infection was instituted by cecal ligation puncture method on the 7th day after blood transfusion. Blood samples were taken at the 90th minute and at 6-hour intervals after cecal ligation puncture and were used for measurement of TNF-alpha levels by ELISA method. In the remaining 48 rats, survival was investigated within the first week of cecal ligation puncture. RESULTS Our results revealed significantly depressed TNF-alpha levels in the homologous blood transfusion group, but with respect to survival, no difference was detected between the groups. CONCLUSION Based on these findings, we concluded that autologous blood transfusion decreases trans fusion-related immunomodulation but does not cause a decrease in mortality due to intraabdominal infection.