[Effect of blood transfusions on rate of recurrence of Crohn disease].

The effect of perioperative blood transfusions on recurrence has been investigated in 261 patients with Crohn's disease who underwent a "curative" operation since 1981. Reoperations were necessary with a rate of approximately 3% per year. By Kaplan-Meier-analysis no difference could be detected between 120 patients with transfusion and 141 without (p = 0.407, log rank test). Statistical analysis of potentially interfering covariables revealed a significant effect of age and type of operation on postoperative recurrences. Even after stratification for these parameters it was impossible to confirm the protective influence of transfusions reported by others. However, in some subgroups there was a trend towards an association of blood transfusions with earlier reoperations.