Side effects of homologous transfusion

: The risk of transmitting infectious agents through homologous blood transfusions can't be completely eliminated. According to our present knowledge, the posttransfusion-hepatitis (PTH) type B has been overestimated till the end of the seventies. Concerning PTH type Non A Non B special serological diagnostic techniques are missing, but nevertheless, there are indications as well that the frequency of this transfusion side-effect is overrated. The occurrence of HIV-transmission through blood-transfusions is right now considered to be 1:10(6) to 1: (3 X 10(6)). Because of continuous improvement of the analysing methods, these results seem to be reasonable and are similar to those we found. To determine the influence of transfusions on the defense mechanism of tumor-patients further investigations are necessary, because the immunosuppressive effect of the individual blood components has to be rated differently.