Short note: the potential of umbilical cord blood to increase tissue oxygenation in adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Umbilical blood, consisting mainly of fetal haemoglobin, has an increased oxygen affinity. Adult respiratory distress syndrome may be caused by any acute, diffuse, infiltrative lung lesion of diverse aetiologies and is characterized by severe arterial hypoxia. Mechanical ventilation with high FIO2 and elevated pressures is used to improve tissue oxygenation in these patients. Nevertheless, adult respiratory distress syndrome may be fatal. Our hypothesis suggests that transfusion of umbilical cord blood to adult respiratory distress syndrome patients may facilitate oxygen transport by increasing oxygen binding in the erythrocytes passing through the damaged lungs. The local hypoxia and the accompanied acidosis in the periphery may accelerate the oxygen unload to the tissues, thus augmenting overall oxygen delivery. Studies with animals and humans show that left-shifted oxyhaemoglobin dissociated curve confers a degree of adaptation to low-oxygen tension ambient. Umbilical cord blood is available in every hospital, and there are no contraindications to its use.
Ballin
A
A
Pediatric Hematology Unit, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Barr
J
J
Vinograd
I
I
Meytes
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008954:Models, Biological; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*
D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin