Survival of red blood cells after transfusion: a comparison between red cells concentrates of different storage periods.

Background: The use of fresh red blood cells (RBCs) is recommended for critically ill patients and patients undergoing surgery, although there is no conclusive evidence that this is beneficial. In this follow-up study, the short-term and the long-term recovery of irradiated, leukoreduced RBCs transfused after either a short storage (SS) or a long storage (LS) period were compared. By consecutive transfusion of RBCs with a SS and LS period, a direct comparison of their survival within the same patient was possible.

Red cell concentrates of hemochromatosis patients comply with the storage guidelines for transfusion purposes.

Background: Therapeutic phlebotomy is the preferred treatment for iron overload associated with hemochromatosis. In the Netherlands, red blood cell concentrates (RCCs) from hemochromatosis patients are not used for transfusion purposes. In this study, their storage performance was compared with that of control donors as a first step in the evaluation of their potential usefulness for transfusion.

Hemoglobin loss from erythrocytes in vivo results from spleen-facilitated vesiculation.

Previous studies have shown that approximately 20% of hemoglobin is lost from circulating red blood cells (RBCs), mainly during the second half of the cells' life span. Because hemoglobin-containing vesicles are known to circulate in plasma, these vesicles were isolated. Flow cytometry studies showed that most RBC-derived vesicles contain hemoglobin with all hemoglobin components present.