Metabolic rejuvenation upgrades circulatory functions of red blood cells stored under blood bank conditions.

Background: Red blood cells (RBC) change upon hypothermic conservation, and storage for 6 weeks is associated with the short-term clearance of 15% to 20% of transfused RBCs. Metabolic rejuvenation applied to RBCs before transfusion replenishes energetic sources and reverses most storage-related alterations, but how it impacts RBC circulatory functions has not been fully elucidated.

Study Design And Methods: Six RBC units stored under blood bank conditions were analyzed weekly for 6 weeks and rejuvenated on Day 42 with an adenine-inosine-rich solution.

Age of transfused red blood cells and health outcomes in two surgical cohorts.

Rationale: Red blood cells (RBC) undergo morphologic and biochemical changes during storage which may lead to adverse health risks upon transfusion. In prior studies, the effect of RBC age on health outcomes has been conflicting. We designed the study to assess the effects of RBC units' storage duration on health outcomes specifically for hospitalized patients undergoing hip fracture surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.