POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES (PMN) TRANSFUSION FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEONATAL SEPSIS

25 newborns with bacterial sepsis received from 2 to 14 transfusions (20 ml/kg of a suspension containing .5-1 × 109PMNs, and less than 6% lymphocytes, obtained by continuous flow filtration leukapheresis). Results were compared with findings in 40 septic newborns not treated by PMNs transfusions (GROUP B). GROUPS A and B were comparable with respect to clinical characteristics and etiology (in most cases a highly antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella). The mortality rate was lower in GROUP A than in GROUP B (8% vs 70%, p <0.001). The same was true when comparing infants weighing <1500 g (8% vs 83%, p <0.001) or >1500 g (8% vs 50%, p = 0.02). Major complications and associated conditions (i.e. NEC, meningitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, osteoarthritis, DIC) were observed in 18 patients of GROUP B, and only in 3 of GROUP A. Untoward effects attributable to the PMNs transfusion were never observed. It is concluded that PMNs transfusion represents an highly effective treatment of neonatal sepsis. (C.N.R. project MPP3, n. 79.010.022.83).