Evaluation of nonleukoreduced red blood cell transfusion units collected at delivery from the placenta

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of cord blood (CB) as a source of red blood cells (RBCs) for autologous transfusion.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

CB was collected in 150-mL storage containers with citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD) as anticoagulant and stored in either saline, adenine, glucose, and mannitol (SAG-M; n = 18) or phosphate, adenine, glucose, guanosine, saline, and mannitol (PAGGS-M; n = 18) for 35 days at 4 degrees C. Hematologic status and hemolysis were studied. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 from CB monocytes was analyzed after incubation with addition of weekly sampled supernatants from the CB RBC units. Five additional units (PAGGS-M) were leukoreduced and thereafter analyzed as indicated above.

RESULTS

Hemolysis increased significantly over time, in SAG-M more than in PAGGS-M. During storage in both media, the number of white blood cells (WBCs) decreased, and the LPS-induced production of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 decreased and increased, respectively. There were no significant changes in the LPS-induced production of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in the leukoreduced CB RBC units.

CONCLUSION

Hemolysis in CB RBC units increased significantly over time, and PAGGS-M appears to be superior to SAG-M as a preservation solution for CB RBC. The changes in LPS-induced TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 production over time were probably caused by substances released from apoptotic and/or necrotic WBCs. Further studies are needed to identify both which substances are responsible for the changes in LPS-induced cytokine release and the clinical significance hereof.

In vivo survival of apheresis RBCs, frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol, deglycerolized in the ACP 215, and stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for up to 21 days

BACKGROUND

The FDA has approved the storage of frozen RBCs at -80 degrees C for 10 years and the postwash storage at 4 degrees C for no more than 24 hours. The 4 degrees C postwash storage period is limited to 24 hours, because the current deglycerolization systems are functionally open systems.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Two units of RBCs were collected from each of 13 healthy male volunteers. The RBCs were collected in CP2D by the FDA-approved protocol for an automated apheresis device (MCS, LN8150, Haemonetics) and were stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for 6 days. Using a single disposable glycerolization set in an automated, functionally closed system (ACP 215, Haemonetics) each unit was transferred to a 1000-mL PVC plastic bag and glycerolized to a concentration of 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol and frozen at -80 degrees C. A single disposable deglycerolization set in the ACP 215 was used to deglycerolize the 2 units from the same donor. The deglycerolized RBCs were stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for as long as 21 days.

RESULTS

The mean +/- SD freeze-thaw-wash recovery value was 89.4 +/- 3 percent. The residual hemolysis in the RBCs stored at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for 21 days after deglycerolization was 0.9 +/- 0.2 percent, and the units were negative for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The mean Nageotte WBC count was 9 x 10(6) per unit. When the deglycerolized RBCs were given as an autologous transfusion after storage at 4 degrees C in AS-3 for the 7- to 18-day period, the mean +/- SD 24-hour posttransfusion survival was 77 +/- 7 percent, and the index of therapeutic effectiveness was 69 +/- 8 percent.

CONCLUSION

Two units of human RBCs collected from a single donor by apheresis in the MCS using an LN8150 set can be glycerolized sequentially with a single disposable set and deglycerolized sequentially with another single disposable set in the ACP 215. The previously frozen RBCs stored in AS-3 for 7 to 18 days at 4 degrees C had acceptable hemolysis and an acceptable mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival value and index of therapeutic effectiveness.

Length of storage of transfused red cells and postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND

The transfusion of old red cells (RBCs) may be associated with reduced delivery of oxygen to tissues and an increased risk of transfusion complications. The association of postoperative morbidity with the length of storage of perioperatively transfused RBCs was studied in 268 consecutive patients receiving a blood transfusion for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The postoperative length of hospitalization, the postoperative length of stay in the intensive care unit, and the length of endotracheal intubation after the day of the operation were used as surrogate measures of global postoperative morbidity. The length of storage of the oldest transfused RBC unit, the mean length of storage of the oldest and second oldest RBC units, and the mean length of storage of all RBC units transfused to each patient were tested for association with the three outcome variables. Multiple linear regression analysis and Cox proportional-hazard analysis were used to adjust for the effects of confounding factors that pertained to each patient's severity of illness and the difficulty of each operation.

RESULTS

There were no significant associations after adjustment for the effects of confounding factors.

CONCLUSION

This study did not corroborate the previously reported association between transfusion of old RBCs and increased morbidity. However, there is surprisingly little research on the clinical outcomes of the transfusions of old RBCs, and this hypothesis should be investigated further.

Transfusion and postoperative pneumonia in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: effect of the length of storage of transfused red cells

BACKGROUND

Various bioactive substances are released from white cell (WBC) granules into red cell (RBC) components in a time-dependent manner during blood storage. Some of these substances may have immunosuppressive effects and may contribute to transfusion-induced immunomodulation. RBCs transfused after prolonged storage may be associated with a higher incidence of postoperative infections than fresh RBCs. This hypothesis does not seem to have been investigated in a clinical study.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The records of 416 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft operations at the Massachusetts General Hospital were reviewed. The association between the length of storage of the transfused RBCs, as well as the number of units of non-WBC-reduced allogeneic RBCs and/or platelets transfused, and the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia was calculated by logistic regression analyses adjusting for the effects of confounding factors. Among these were the numbers of days of intubation, days of impaired consciousness, and units of RBCs transfused.

RESULTS

By Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, pneumonia developed in 54 patients (13.0%). Among 269 patients given RBCs, the risk of pneumonia increased by 1 percent per day of increase in the mean storage time of the transfused RBCs (p<0.005). In an analysis of all patients, the risk of pneumonia increased by 5 percent per unit of non-WBC-reduced allogeneic RBCs and/or platelets received (p = 0.0584).

CONCLUSION

After adjustment for the effects of the risk factors for pneumonia and the number of transfused RBCs, an association was observed between the length of storage of transfused RBCs and the development of postoperative pneumonia. This association should be investigated further in future studies of the outcomes of blood transfusion.