Donor-specific blood transfusions with stored and fresh blood in a rat heart allograft model.
Donor-specific transfusions ( DSTs ) using stored and fresh blood were investigated in a rat heart allograft model. Lewis rats were recipients of preoperative DSTs and cardiac allografts from ACI donors. Blood was stored for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks prior to transfusion. Allograft survival and recipient sensitization were recorded. In all DST groups, allograft survival was superior to nontransfused controls (P less than 0.05). Stored blood was equal or better than fresh blood, and a 2-week storage was optimal (P less than 0.05). Storage of 2 weeks or greater resulted in decreased sensitization compared to storage for 1 week or less (P less than 0.05). This study supports the use of stored blood to enhance allograft survival and reduce recipient sensitization.
D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors