Transfusion in premature infants impairs production and/or release of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The author concludes that suppression of erythro-, leuko- and thrombopoiesis within 48 hours after transfusion decreases the amount of precursor cells in the peripheral blood. This is a very important observation. However, the question arises as to whether it is not only an inhibition of bone marrow cell release to the peripheral blood.

– V. Kretschmer