Thromboelastometric evaluation of coagulation profiles of cold-stored autologous whole blood

Preoperative autologous blood donation is a well-established procedure to reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusion. We hypothesized that coagulation activity is maintained in cold-stored whole blood, because the fundamental polymerization properties of fibrin are preserved. Fifty adult patients who underwent elective cardiothoracic surgery were enrolled. Autologous whole blood collected 2 to 4 times at almost 1-week intervals before surgery was stored at approximately 4°C until reinfusion at the time of surgery. Blood samples were drawn just before reinfusion, and rotational thromboelastometry variables and fibrinogen levels were measured. A total of 158 samples were analyzed. The mean duration of cold storage was 16.7 ± 7.4 days (range: 6–33 days). Platelet counts were very low due to collection through a leukoreduction filter. The mean fibrinogen level was 2.3 ± 0.6 g/L. Amplitude at 10 minutes after CT (A10), amplitude at 20 minutes after CT (A20), and maximum clot firmness (MCF) values as determined by FIBTEM analysis were 10.8 ± 3.8, 12.2 ± 4.2, and 13.1 ± 4.7 mm, respectively. Fibrinogen levels were strongly correlated with A10, A20, and FIBTEM-MCF values (ρ = 0.83, P  < .0001, ρ = 0.84, P  < .0001, ρ = 0.85, P  < .0001, respectively). Fibrinogen levels were not correlated with the duration of cold storage (ρ = 0.06, P  = .43). The results of the present study demonstrate that fibrin polymerization occurs in cold-stored autologous whole blood, and that such activity is strongly correlated with fibrinogen levels. Furthermore, our data suggest that cold-stored leukoreduced autologous whole blood retains fibrin polymerization properties throughout 33 days.