Premium
Red blood cell storage and cell morphology
Author(s) -
Blasi B.,
D’Alessandro A.,
Ramundo N.,
Zolla L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3148.2012.01139.x
Subject(s) - erythrocyte fragility , red blood cell , blood cell , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , fragility , chemistry , andrology , medicine , biophysics , biology , hemolysis
Aim: In this study, we performed weekly assessment of morphology‐related parameters through monitoring of CPD‐SAGM leuco‐filtered erythrocyte concentrates from blood withdrawal until the 42nd day of storage. Background: Liquid storage of red blood cells (RBCs) delivers a blood‐derived therapeutic, which is safe, available, effective and affordable for most patients who need transfusion therapy in developed countries. However, a growing body of accumulating controversial evidences, from either biochemical or retrospective clinical studies, prompted safety concerns about longer stored RBCs. Methods: Statistical image analysis through scanning electron microscope was coupled to osmotic fragility and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Results: We could observe that by day 21 more than 50% of RBCs displayed non‐discocyte phenotypes. This observation was related to an increase in osmotic fragility, which was totally overlapped in day 0 controls and day 7 RBCs while only slightly augmented in day 14 samples. Cation dysregulation (pH internal/external alteration and potassium) might both reflect and trigger a negative feedback loop with metabolic fluxes and membrane cation pumps. Conclusion: Morphology parameters suggest that significant alterations to RBC morphology over storage duration occur soon after the 14th day of storage, as to become significant enough within the 21st day.