Liver function after massive transfusions of packed red cells

Abstract

The liver function was studied in 16 dogs after experimental transfusion of massive doses of packed red cells in order to identify which component of the blood influences the liver function. Transfusion of massive doses of packed red cells was found not to cause any significant changes in the excretory, assimilative, and protein-forming functions or in the content of transaminases. In the control group receiving transfusions of massive doses of whole homologous blood considerable disturbances of liver function were found. The results confirm the view that one cause of disturbances of liver function in the “massive blood transfusion syndrome” is incompatibility of the plasma proteins of the donor and recipient.