This is old news, albeit important add on. This group didn't facilitate a study that would allow them to give a reason. However, they did add another straw to the back of the transfusion practice camel.

Since 2000 there have been studies that did show perioperative blood transfusions act to suppress the immune system. It was surmised that this exposed the patient to secondary problems and cancer re-occurance.

Perhaps the fact that nitric oxide is not present to help deliver RBC to the tissues has some bearing. Starving cells are weak.

It is frustrating isn't it? We see the gorilla sitting across the table but until we take a DNA sample, send it to the lab and wait for the results all we can say for sure is that our colleague Maggie was beaten to death by a cause of unknown origin. Say it was an 800 pound gorilla and the boys will argue all the way to the funeral.

:-)