Haemoglobin-based blood substitutes and sepsis.
An important concern that has received little attention is the possible increased susceptibility to bacterial infections of patients infused with cell-free haemoglobin-based blood substitutes. We show that pyridoxalated polymerised human haemoglobin promotes fulminating Escherichia coli septicaemia in mice, which draws attention to the potential danger of such products in the clinic.
Griffiths
E
E
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, UK.
Cortes
A
A
Gilbert
N
N
Stevenson
P
P
MacDonald
S
S
Pepper
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*
D001802:Blood Substitutes; D006454:Hemoglobins; C030939:polyhemoglobin-pyridoxal-5-phosphate; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate