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Red blood cell age and potentiation of transfusion‐related pathology in trauma patients
Author(s) -
Weinberg Jordan A.,
Barnum Scott R.,
Patel Rakesh P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03098.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pathophysiology , red blood cell , nitric oxide , homeostasis , immune system , immunology , blood transfusion , red cell , perfusion , red blood cell transfusion , pathology , physiology
The specific negative clinical manifestations associated with the transfusion of stored red blood cells (RBCs) and the corresponding mechanisms responsible for such phenomena remain poorly defined. Our recent studies document that leukoreduced older RBC units potentiate transfusion‐related toxicity in trauma patients. It is our hypothesis that the transfusion of relatively older blood impedes microvascular perfusion. The central mechanisms proposed to mediate this microcirculatory alteration include: 1) the loss of RBC‐dependent control of nitric oxide–mediated homeostasis concerning vasodilation and 2) immune cell and complement activation. In this review, we outline the background for our hypothesis and detail our current investigations toward the understanding of this pathophysiology.