Expression of beneficial blood transfusion effect in dogs is dependent upon immunosuppressants used.

To achieve the beneficial blood transfusion effect, postoperative immunosuppression with Aza/Pred is mandatory. When CY-A is used for immunosuppression during a limited time, the transfusion effect is not manifested; however CY-A does not lessen the effect in animals given Aza/Pred. In nontransfused recipients, the combination of Aza/Pred and CY-A did not give better graft survival than CY-A alone.