Transfusion of blood components to persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1: Relationship to opportunistic infection

Background: Although a recent study reported shorter survivals in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients who received transfusions, no study has analyzed the relationship in such patients between the frequency of opportunistic infection and transfusion. Study Design and Methods: Records of 196 HIV-1-infected subjects with CD4 lymphocyte counts below 250 cells per mm³ were reviewed to determine if there were more opportunistic infections in patients who previously received transfusions than in those who received no transfusions. The decline in CD4 cells was also compared, and the frequency of transfusion reactions and red cell alloantibodies was assessed. Results: The frequency of cytomegalovirus (CMV), wasting, and bacterial infections (p0.2), was significantly increased in the patients who had previously received transfusions, and this effect was independent of CD4 count, race, or risk factor. The frequency of CMV infection, but not of PCP, was also related to the number of units of blood received (p